Jurji Zaidan and the Foundations of Arab Nationalism

Jurji Zaidan was one of the leading thinkers of the Arab renaissance. Through his historical novels, his widely read journal, al-Hilal, which is still published today, and his scholarly works, he forged a new cultural Arab identity. In this book, Philipp shows how Zaidan popularized the idea of society that was based on science and reason, and invoked its accessibility to all who aspired to progress and modernity. In the first section, Philipp traces the arc of Zaidan’s career, placing his writi