In September; 1219; as the armies of the Fifth Crusade besieged the Egyptian city of Damietta; Francis of Assisi went to Egypt to preach to Sultan al-Malik al-Kâmil. Although we in fact know very little about this event; this has not prevented artists and writers from the thirteenth century to the twentieth; unencumbered by mere facts; from portraying Francis alternatively as a new apostle preaching to the infidels; a scholastic theologian proving the truth of Christianity; a champion of the crusading ideal; a naive and quixotic wanderer; a crazed religious fanatic; or a medieval Gandhi preaching peace; love; and understanding. Al-Kâmil; on the other hand; is variously presented as an enlightened pagan monarch hungry for evangelical teaching; a cruel oriental despot; or a worldly libertine. Saint Francis and the Sultan takes a detailed look at these richly varied artistic responses to this brief but highly symbolic meeting. Throwing into relief the changing fears and hopes that Muslim-Christian encounters have inspired in European artists and writers in the centuries since; it gives a uniquely broad but precise vision of the evolution of Western attitudes towards Islam and the Arab world over the last eight hundred years.
#2716748 in Books 2009-05-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.20 x 1.10 x 9.30l; 1.85 #File Name: 019923972X416 pages
Review
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Sultan scores!By Mark PGreat look at east meeting west so-to-speak. I used this for a class and really enjoyed it.I ordered another book about it and enjoyed it as well.
