Jurji Zaidan and the Foundations of Arab Nationalism

Jurji Zaidan was one of the leading thinkers of the Arab renaissance. 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 analyzing 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.