Hikayaat: Stories from Medieval Arabia (Paperback)

Description

Hikayaat: Stories from Medieval Arabia, by Amr Jayousi, is a book of a 100 non-fiction stories taking place in Medieval Arabia (9th-14th century), and translated from various original medieval Arabic manuscripts. The stories are all meant to be universal and entertaining, and cover common themes in the "stories tradition" of Medieval Arabia, such as witticisms, chivalry, funny comebacks, wisecracks, bizarre occurrences and acts of heroism and genius. The translation style is casual and modern, and the stories are more "re-told" than translated from Arabic to English.

PART ONE- INTELLIGENT STORIES

Stories of guys who promised something and regretted it

Stories of guys that gave their word and had to find a way around it

Stories of guys who thought outside the box

Stories of guys in power who showed a lot of class

Stories of guys that had to think on their feet

Stories of guys that were big on chivalry

Stories of guys who showed a lot of loyalty

Stories of guys who returned the favor

PART TWO- BIZARRE STORIES

Stories of guys who almost had their heads chopped off

Stories of guys who shot themselves in the foot

Stories of judges who had an interesting concept of justice

Stories of "happily ever after"

Stories of nights of debauchery

Stories of guys who knew how to be subtle but effective

Stories of pranksters and scammers

Stories involving some interesting dreams

PART THREE- COMEDIC STORIES

Stories of kings and princes in disguise

Stories of guys who knew how to force it

Stories that became proverbial

Stories with some good one-liners

Stories of guys who had an attitude

Stories of guys who claimed to be divine

Stories of guys who showed up uninvited

Stories of guys that verge on the absurd