Ibn Abi Tahir Tayfur and Arabic Writerly Culture

by Shawkat Toorawa

Toorawa re-evaluates the literary history and landscape of third to ninth century Baghdad by demonstrating and emphasizing the significance of the important transition from a predominantly oral-aural culture to an increasingly literate one. This transformation had a profound influence on the production of learned and literary culture; modes of transmission of learning; nature and types of literary production; nature of scholarly and professional occupations and alliances; and ranges of meanings of certain key concepts, such as plagiarism. In order to better understand these, attention is focused on a central but understudied figure, Ibn Abi Tahir Tayfur (d. 280 to 893), a writer, schoolmaster, scholar and copyist, member of important literary circles, and a significant anthologist and chronicler. This book will appeal to anyone interested in Arabic literary culture and history, and those with an interest in books, writing, authorship and patronage.

Genres: History

232 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Ian McHugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a superb scholarly account of the life of 9th Century poet, prose writer, historian, storyteller, anthologist, critic, and writer Ibn Abi Tahir. Toorawa weaves a convincing narrative that Ibn Abi Tahir and many other of the same ilk and era created became 'literateurs' in the burgeoning, book-rich, environment of 9th Century Baghdad and Samarra.

Through discussion of the development of writing and book 'culture' in Baghdad, the nature of the transmission of information and literary works in written and oral form, and the social and scholastic connections, a picture emerges of a vibrant community. Crucial is the idea that the change in availability of books through an emergent literacy, copying industry and book selling community, vibrant majlis discussion groups, and a brotherhood of like-minded scholars and learned men, created a distinct 'writerly culture' in the main cities of the 'Abbasid Empire. additionally, and convincingly, this culture came into existence outside of caliphal and high-bureaucratic patronage.

My favourite chapters were those which outlined the shift from and oral/aural tradition to a written tradition an an "insistence of books".

Fascinating to think of this scholarly culture existing outside of the traditional areas of study centred on the patrimonial bureaucratic centre of the empire based at court or around the caliph. A timely reminder that everyday life - and brilliance in artists endeavour - always continues irrespective of who is in charge.