8vo. vi, [1], 238 pp., original wrappers, slightly faded, copy inside clean & in very good condition, translated from Arabic, appendix containing critical text from Ibn Hazm’s Tauq Al-Hamama, from the library of Dr GHA Juynboll, E. J. Brill, Leiden, first German edition, 1941.

Synopsis

First German translation of Tawq Al-Hamamah (The Dove’s Ring) written in Cordoba by Ibn Hazm (994-1064) in the 11th Century. This work “is a unique masterpiece of Arab writing in Spain during the Moslem period. Its author Ibn Hazm, otherwise famous as a theologian, here develops a complete theory of Courtly Love as evolved by the Arabs, as theory which was later to exercise a profound influence on Mediaeval Europe and the Troubadors. He illustrates his discourse, brilliantly written, with many fascinating personal reminiscences which shed a flood of light on the high civilization of Muslim Spain, as well as with much interesting and original poetry”. cf Nasr1545.