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Gibb Memorial Trust

A Short History of the Gibb Memorial Trust and its TrusteesA Century of Oriental Scholarship

Edited by Charles Melville

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£70.00

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About this book

Provides an unusual history of an important institution promoting Islamic scholarship in Britain
  • Presents authoritative biographies of leading scholars by those working in the same field
  • Brings together leading scholars of Middle Eastern history, literature, Islamic mysticism and religious studies to discuss their influential predecessors in these fields
  • Draws on the unpublished archives of the Gibb Memorial Trust and first-hand memoirs
  • Reveals how the Gibb Memorial Trust was able to promote and support the publication and study of key Middle Eastern sources for over a century

The Gibb Memorial Trust, founded at the start of the 20th century, comprised among its trustees some of the most celebrated and prominent orientalists of their day. Together, they sponsored and supported research on editing and translating Arabic, Persian and Turkish manuscripts on a range of subjects, from history, literature, geography and poetry to Sufism and the Islamic sciences.

This volume covers the development of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies over the last 120 years or so, as seen through the biographies of the leading scholars of the period. It opens with a short history of the Trust, before presenting a series of short biographical and often personal appreciations of these eminent Middle Eastern scholars of the past, written by existing trustees. In providing a history of this important institution, the book shines a light on the history and development of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in Britain more broadly.

Reviews

This multi-authored volume presents an unparalleled account of the advance of Middle Eastern studies in twentieth-century Britain by way of a history of the Gibb Memorial Trust. The committee’s trustees have been scholars of Arabic, Persian or Turkish of the first rank and their careers and contributions to the publication programme of the Trust are sketched by current scholars who are of a similar eminence. Taken as a whole the story of the Gibb Memorial Trust is one of stupendous erudition, energy, scholarly rancour and eccentricity.
Celebrating the major highlights in the lives, times and achievements of some of the luminaries of the highly respected Gibb Memorial Trust, this truly delightful book is penned with empathy, sensitivity and, in a few cases, the tantalizing comment that piques the reader’s interest in the complex relationships and ‘secret’ pursuits of those involved. The book further imparts a sense of history of 'Oriental Studies' and, for the savvy reader, hints at how traditions of transmission and chains of patronage work in an academic setting going back more than a century ago.
Table of contents

Note on Transliteration and Abbreviations Used

Introduction Charles Melville 1. E. J. W. Gibb Christine Woodhead 2. E. G. Browne Rob Gleave 3. G. Le Strange Hugh Kennedy 4. H. F. Amedroz Andrew Marsham 5. A. G. EllisCharles Melville 6. R. A. Nicholson Alan Williams 7. Sir E. Denison Ross Andrew Peacock 8. Sir James Lyall James Montgomery 9. C. A. Storey Charles Melville10. H. A. R. Gibb Hugh Kennedy 11. Reuben Levy Charles Melville12. A. J. Arberry Charles Melville13. A. F. L. BeestonCarole Hillenbrand14. Bernard LewisCarole Hillenbrand15. A. K. S. Lambton Carole Hillenbrand16. Geoffrey L. LewisChristine Woodhead17. J. D. Pearson Charles Melville18. M. C. LyonsCarole Hillenbrand19. R. B. SerjeantAndrew Marsham20. R. C. Zaehner Alan Williams21. J. A. BoyleCharles Melville22. J. Derek LathamCarole Hillenbrand23. A. H. MortonCharles Melville24. G. Rex Smith Interview by Robert Gleave

Appendix A: List of Trustees Appendix B: List of Gibb Memorial Series Publications Index

About the author

Charles Melville

Charles Melville is Emeritus Professor of Persian History, University of Cambridge. His research interests cover the history of Iran from the Mongols to the Safavids (13th-17th century), Persian historiography and epic literature, and Persian manuscript culture, especially illustrated texts. Recent edited and co-edited volumes include Safavid Persia in the Age of Empires (I.B. Tauris, 2021); Shahnama Studies III (Brill, 2018); and The Mongols’ Middle East. Continuity and transformation in Ilkhanid Iran (Brill, 2016).

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