The book “Orientalists’ Efforts in Andalusian Literature: A Critical and Descriptive Study” by researcher Fardous Ismail Al-Kartani is an in-depth academic study that sheds light on the role Orientalists played in uncovering various aspects of Andalusian literature through an analysis of their scholarly efforts, translations of their works, and critical opinions. The book carefully examines the contributions of European Orientalists who were interested in this genre of Arabic literature and contributed to collecting, editing, and disseminating its texts in the West, allowing it to reach a wider audience. At the same time, the book examines the shortcomings and intellectual biases that marred some of these efforts, reviewing the Western discourses surrounding Andalusian literature from an Orientalist perspective.
The author adopts a descriptive and critical approach, not only documenting the names of Orientalists and their works, but also analyzing the contexts that produced these studies. She highlights how many Western readings were saturated with stereotypical views or preconceived notions about Arab-Islamic civilization. The book also demonstrates how some Orientalist studies have contributed to highlighting the literary aesthetics of Andalusia, while other studies have treated this literature solely as a cultural document, neglecting its creative value.
This book is an important reference for researchers in the fields of Andalusian literature, Orientalism, and literary criticism, as it balances recognition of the value of Western efforts to transmit the Arab literary heritage with a critique of the motives and visions behind those efforts, making it a qualitative addition to the field of comparative literary studies.
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