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Colloquial Arabic storytelling is most commonly associated with The Thousandvand One Nights. But few people are aware of a much larger corpus of narrative texts known as popular epic. These heroic romantic tales, originating in the Middle Ages, form vast cycles of adventure stories whose most remarkable feature is their portrayal of powerful and memorable women. Wildly appreciated by medieval audiences, and spread by professional storytellers throughout the cities of the Muslim world, these fictions were printed and reprinted over the centuries and comprise a vital part of Arab culture. Yet virtually none are available in translation, and so remain almost unknown to a non-Arab public. Remke Kruk at last makes these neglected romances available to a Western audience. She recounts the story of Princess Dhat al-Himma, brave and undefeated leader of the Muslim army in its wars against the Byzantines; of Ghamra, brought up as a boy to become a fearless leader of men; and of cool-headed Qannasa, raiding from her mountain fortress to capture and seduce her enemies before putting them pitilessly to the sword.The Warrior Women of Islam puts a bold new complexion on gender roles and the wider perception of women in the Middle East.
List of contents
Preface
A Note on Transliteration
Abbreviations
A Note on the Illustrations
List of Illustrations
Acknowledgements
Chapter I
Arabic popular epic: an introductory note
Chapter II
Warrior women in the Arabic tradition
Chapter III
Sîrat Dhât al-Himma I: Princess Dhât al-Himma and her many battles
Chapter IV
Sîrat Dhât al-Himma II
Chapter V
Sîrat Dhât al-Himma III
Chapter VI
Warrior women in Sîrat 'Antar I
Chapter VII
Warrior women in Sîrat 'Antar II
Chapter VIII
Prince H'amza al-Bahlawân: in praise of traditional womanhood
Chapter IX
Sîrat Baybars I: Lionesses
Chapter X
Sîrat Baybars II: Warrior queens
Chapter XI
King Sayf ibn Dhî Yazan, the soft hearted I: Qamarîya
Chapter XII
King Sayf ibn Dhî Yazan II: T'âma
Chapter XIII
King Sayf ibn Dhî Yazan III: Munyat an-Nufûs
Chapter XIV
Final observations
Notes
List of illustrations
Bibliography
About the author
Remke Kruk
Summary
* Big, bold, revisionist book which plausibly challenges gender stereotypes about women and Islam * Makes sparkling tales and stories accessible for the first time to an English-speaking readership * Wide appeal to a variety of readers, in Middle East studies, comparative literature & medieval history
