The Ultimate Ambition in the Arts of Erudition, (Paperback)

from stillatim

First, thanks to Elias Muhanna for convincing a trade press to publish this. It's great fun: selections from a fourteenth century Egyptian 'encyclopaedia.' There are great stories, weird facts, and our translator/edtior does some good imitations of rhythmical/rhymed prose. I would say, for the ne...

from bezoar44

The juiciest parts of this abridged translation are the discussions of proverbs and parables, wild animals, perfumes, and recipes for aphrodisiacs. For example, here's at-Nuwayri's helpful advice for how to get rid of an angry rhinoceros: "A trustworthy person among the Abyssinians told me that r...

from le.vert.galant

This is the sort of book that gives a real insight to the Medieval mind. A cabinet of curiosities that illustrates the human penchant for creating certainty out of ignorance. One either loves this type of compendium or finds it tedious. I am firmly in the former camp.

from le.vert.galant

This is the sort of book that gives a real insight to the Medieval mind. A cabinet of curiosities that illustrates the human penchant for creating certainty out of ignorance. One either loves this type of compendium or finds it tedious. I am firmly in the former camp.