Jurji Zaydan – författare

Shajar al-Durr, known as Tree of Pearls, was one of the most famous Arab queens and the only woman in the medieval Arab world to rule in her own name. Her narrative is one element of a much larger story of the unsettled political climate of thirteenth-century Egypt. In this eponymous novel, Zaydan charts the fall of the Ayyubid Dynasty and the rise of the Mamluke Dynasty through the adventures of Tree of Pearls and Rukn al- Din Baybars, a young Mamluke commander who eventually triumphs as the ruler of Egypt. War, political intrigue, murder, and a female ruler who was born a slave combine for an irresistible story, while Zaydan’s keen observations on royal politics and subverted gender roles offer readers a richly detailed glimpse of the cultural milieu of the time. Tree of Pearls, originally published in 1914, is the last in a famous series of historical novels written by Zaydan, an accomplished historian whose books continue to be read widely in the Arab world today. Selim’s fluid translation introduces an English audience to one of the Arab world’s influential writers.

Jurji Zaydan had extensive knowledge of the field of linguistics, both theoretically and practically. From a theoretical perspective, he was interested in studies related to the philosophy and history of language, in addition to his study of comparative philology. He was also familiar with the modern linguistic theories of his time. From a practical perspective, he was fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, Syriac, Latin, English, French, and German. He was also conversant in Italian and Spanish, enabling him to understand what he read.This extensive knowledge of the linguistic field prompted him to write this book, which addresses the history of the Arabic language and the changes it has undergone through modernization.He divides the historical study of the Arabic language into several points: the pre-Islamic era, the Islamic era, administrative terms in the Arab state, scientific terms in the Arab state, general terms in the Arab state, Christian and Jewish terms, terms imported from foreign languages ​​such as Turkish and Kurdish, and the modern renaissance, during which Arabic borrowed from Western languages.

The novel "The Girl of Kairouan" is part of the History of Islam series. It is a historical romance in which Jurji Zaydan narrates significant historical events through the lens of a passionate love story.The novel depicts the rise of the Fatimid Caliphate in North Africa, highlighting the virtues of Al-Mu''izz li-Din Allah and his renowned commander Jawhar al-Siqilli. It also explores the decline and eventual fall of the Ikhshidid Dynasty, portraying how its rulers became consumed by luxury, indulgence, and tyranny, which led to divisions within their army.Additionally, the book offers vivid descriptions of the Berber tribes of Africa, their customs, and their way of life during that period, while recounting the Fatimids'' unity, strength, and eventual establishment of the Fatimid state after the fall of the Ikhshidids.

The novel "Shajarat al-Durr" is part of the History of Islam series. It tells the story of Shajarat al-Durr, the first woman to ascend the throne and rule in the history of Islamic Egypt. She was crowned Queen of Egypt following the assassination of King Turanshah, the last Sultan of the Ayyubid dynasty.Her reign coincided with a series of tragic events that shaped the political landscape of the Islamic world. Among these was the fall of the Abbasid Caliphate after the Mongol invasion of Baghdad, which had served as the Caliphate''s capital for over five centuries, leading to the eventual relocation of the caliphal seat to Egypt.At the same time, King Louis IX of France personally led the Crusader armies in an attempt to conquer Egypt, which was then regarded as the strongest Islamic state.Despite these immense international challenges, Shajarat al-Durr succeeded in governing the country with exceptional skill, strength, and determination.

The novel "Ahmad ibn Tulun" is part of the renowned History of Islam series. This work combines the elements of literary fiction with historical accuracy, focusing on significant events that took place during the rule of Ahmad ibn Tulun.