Washington Irving and Islam: Critical Essays

(Hardback)

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Description

Washington Irving and Islam contributes to understanding the relationship between the United States and the Islamic world, valuable not only for studies of Washington Irving, American Literature, or Islam, but also for thinking through the role Islam and the Orient have played in American literature and history, a critical field receiving ever-increasing attention. The global context of Irvings work ties these essays together as does an understanding that his writings challenge easy classification of the Muslim other, and, indeed, challenge easy classification of Irvings own responses to that other. Washington Irving bestrides opposing positions as well as distant worlds.

Reviews

This timely collection reclaims Washington Irving as a pivotal figure in American literature, casting light on some key worksMahomet and his Successors, Tales of Alhambra, Conquest of Granada, Life of Mahometwhile putting Islam front and center as a formative presence. Compelling, eye-opening, and necessary. -- Wai Chee Dimock, Yale University

Author Bio

Zubeda Jalalzai is professor of English at Rhode Island College.