Exploring the intersection of literature and culinary arts, this book delves into how Arab and Islamic culinary traditions are depicted in various literary forms. It examines the cultural significance of food in storytelling and the ways in which these representations reflect broader societal themes and values within Arab and Islamic contexts. Through a critical analysis, it highlights the rich tapestry of culinary practices and their narrative roles in shaping identity and heritage.
An early 10th-century Arabic critic defined poetry as “metrical, rhymed, meaningful speech.” While many studies explore themes in classical Arabic poetry, they often overlook the formal aspects that differentiate poetry from prose, such as metre, rhyme, and sound patterns. Conversely, existing treatises on these formal elements tend to focus on theory rather than practical application, neglecting the interplay between sound and meaning. Geert Jan van Gelder addresses this gap by examining the relationships between sound and meaning in poetic practice, rather than relying solely on classical treatises. The introduction outlines what is known about the sounds of Classical Arabic verse based on written sources. Subsequent chapters analyze the choices poets make regarding metre and rhyme, emphasizing the implications of prosodical constraints, while also highlighting unique versification oddities. Another chapter showcases various sound patterns that poets use to structure their verses. The interaction between sound and sense is often evident, though not always closely linked. All Arabic examples are presented in transliteration with translations, and appendices provide introductions to Arabic prosody and phonology.