Among Arabic Manuscripts : memories of libraries and men
Author(s)
Bibliographic Information
Among Arabic Manuscripts : memories of libraries and men
（Brill classics in Islam, v. 8）
Brill, 2016
- : hardback
Available at 1 libraries
Note
"Originally published as Над арабскuмu рукопuсямu"--T.p. verso
Previou ed.: 1953
"This editon published in 2016 with a new introduction by Michael Kemper"--T.p. verso
Contents of Works
- In the Manuscript Department
- From wanderings in the East
- Arab writers and the Russian Arabist
- In the Asiatic Museum
- In the University Library
- "The game comes running to the hunter"
- Shades of our predecessors
- Finale. "Requiem aeternam" (1943)
- Supplement. "The bindingness of the non-binding"
Description and Table of Contents
Description
I.Y. Kratchkovsky (Ignatii Iul'ianovich Krachkovskii) was an iconic scholar, and Among Arabic Manuscripts, Memories of Libraries and Men gives us a good indication of what made him so outstanding. Hugely influential in its time, especially in Eastern Europe, it inspired several now-noted Arabists to start their studies in this field. It is beautifully written and, with the rising relevance of Arab-Russian relations has new historical importance. A memoir of a life in Orientalism, this autobiographic text is the result of strong will and endurance, and of total dedication to Arabic literature and language. It tells of Kratchkovsky's enormous achievements in the field, in a very personal manner and in an easily accessible form.
The present publication is the English translation of the first 1953 Brill edition, accomplished by Tatiana Minorsky (d. 1987), with a new introduction by Michael Kemper.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Krachkovskii and Soviet Arabic Studies, or:
What is not in Among Arabic Manuscripts
by Michael Kemper (Amsterdam)
CONTENTS
PRELUDE (1943) VII
I. IN THE MANUSCRIPT DEPARTMENT
Prologue (1901) 1
1. An ancient book (1906) 2
2. A translator of Krilov (1922) 3
3. A contemporary of Hulagu (1911) 5
4. The hostage of a double prison (1912) 6
5. From Sicily via Persia to St. Petersburg (1928) 7
Epilogue (1914) 9
II. FROM WANDERINGS IN THE EAST
1. Books and men (1908-1910) 11
2. Grammatical treatise or anti-religious tract? (1910-1932) 21
3. The unwritten thesis (1910) 25
4. The manuscripts of two patriarchs or a prophecy fulfilled (1900-1927) 30
III. ARAB WRITERS AND THE RUSSIAN ARABIST
1. The philosopher of the Freyka valley (1910-1940) 40
2. The aristocrat-fellah of Cairo 46
3. The Poltava seminarist 54
IV. IN THE ASIATIC MUSEUM
1. Introduction to a legend (1903-1934) 62
2. A unique manuscript and scholars of a dozen nations, Eastern and Western 74
3. A contemporary of the first Crusade (1919-1921) 80
4. Vasco da Gama's pilot 86
V. IN THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY
1. The librarians and the library (1901-1930) 92
2. A first experience as examiner (1914) 105
3. From Cairo to the Volkovo cemetery in St. Petersburg (1916-1930) 115
4. "Al-Andalus" and Leningrad (1906-1942) 123
VI. "THE GAME COMES RUNNING TO THE HUNTER"
1. Bronze tablets from the land of Queen of Sheba (1930) 134
2. A letter from Sogdiana (1934) 142
3. The Kufic Qoran and the Arab grandmother (1936) 150
4. A Russian officer attached to Shamil in Kaluga (1928-1941) 155
VII. SHADES OF OUR PREDECESSORS
1. A martyr for Arabic literature (1910) 163
2. The "quiet" Girgas (1901-1941) 169
3. Half a century of work on one manuscript (1903-1938) 177
FINALE. "Requiem aeternam" (1943) 184
SUPPLEMENT. "The Bindingness of the Non-binding" 186
Notes 190
Postscript 194
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