Contrariness in Classical Arabic Literature : Beautifying the Ugly and the Uglifying the Beautiful, Hardcover by Al-tha?alibi, Abu Man?ur; Van Gelder, Geert Jan (EDT), ISBN 9004691006, ISBN-13 9789004691001, Brand New, Free shipping in the US

"In his Beautifying the Ugly and Uglifying the Beautiful (Tahsin al-qabih wa-taqbih al-òhasan) the prolific anthologist al-Tha'alibi (d. 429/1037) offers a thematically arranged selection of Arabic poems and prose anecdotes or sayings with contrary or paradoxical purport, such as praise of miserliness, boredom, sickness, and death, or condemnation of generosity, intelligence, youth, and music. Th is both entertaining and informative, giving insight in premodern Arab and Islamic culture. It containsa new edition of the Arabic text and a complete English translation (the first in any language) with extensive annotation, preceded by an introduction with the necessary background of the genre"--