Muhyi l-Din Ibn `Arabi (1165-1240) was a hugely influential figure in the development of Sufism, yet although interest in his work continues to grow, his poetry has received very little attention. This book is the first full-length monograph devoted to his Diwan (collected poems). It begins by attempting to define Ibn `Arabi's poetic style and his understanding of poetics, which is closely intertwined with his metaphysics: the rhythms of poetry echo those of creation, and meaning combines with form just as the spirit descends on matter. Drawing on a pre-Islamic theme, he insists that his poetry was revealed to him word for word by a spirit. At the same time, however, his attitude to the function of poetry and its relation to scripture is closer to mainstream medieval Islamic, Jewish and Christian theology than has usually been thought. Denis E. McAuley focuses on close readings of books in unusual verse forms, including poetic responses to chapters of the Qur'an; imitations of earlier poets; poems that use only one rhyme word; and a cycle of poems modelled on the letters of the alphabet. In so doing, he makes frequent comparisons with other Islamic and European poets from the sixth century to the dawn of the twentieth, many of them virtually unstudied. Ibn `Arabi emerges as a highly original poet whose work casts a fresh light on the period and on classical Arabic literature as a whole.

About the Author
Denis McAuley was Beeson Scholar at St John's College, Oxford, and gained his DPhil in Oriental Studies from Oxford University in 2008. He currently works as a translator at United Nations Headquarters, New York. This is his first book.

Reviews
a luminous study ... captivating * The Tablet *
This book is well defined and fulfils its purpose. It should therefore prove valuable to those interested in Ibn Arabi's poems and Arabic literature in general. * Abdullah Sliti, The Islamic Quarterly *
Denis McAuley is to be commended for his achievement. * Th. Emil Homerin, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies *



Book Information
ISBN 9780199659548
Author Denis E. McAuley
Format Hardback
Page Count 268
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 562g
Dimensions(mm) 242mm * 162mm * 20mm