Jurji Zaidan and the Foundations of Arab Nationalism

The creation of a modern Arabic print language and the secular interpretation of Arab history were among the greatest achievements of the Nahda, the Arab cultural revival of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The language became an instrument as well as a symbol for the construction of national identity. In contrast to the traditional perception of Arab history as intrinsically part of Islamic history, the Nahda introduced a new vision of Arab history predating and outlasting Islamic civilization. Jurji Zaidan was one of the leading thinkers of the Arab Nahda. Through his historical novels, his widely read journal al-Hilal, which is still published today, and his scholarly works, he forged a new cultural Arab identity. In this book, Philipp shows how Zaidan popularized the idea of society that was based on science and reason, and invoked its accessibility to all who aspired to progress and modernity. In the first section, Philipp traces the arc of Zaidan’s career, placing his writings within the political and cultural contexts of the day and analysing his impact on the emerging Arab nationalist movement. The second part consists of a wide selection of Zaidan’s articles and book excerpts translated into English. These pieces cover such fields as religion and science, society and ethics, and nationalism. With the addition of a comprehensive bibliography, this volume will be recognized as the authoritative source on Zaidan, as well as an essential contribution to the study of Arabic cultural history.