The Shiites of Lebanon under Ottoman Rule provides an original perspective on the history of the Shiites as a constituent of Lebanese society. Winter presents a history of the community before the 19th century; based primarily on Ottoman Turkish documents. From these; he examines how local Shiites were well integrated in the Ottoman system of rule; and that Lebanon as an autonomous entity only developed in the course of the 18th century through the marginalization and then violent elimination of the indigenous Shiite leaderships by an increasingly powerful Druze-Maronite emirate. As such the book recovers the Ottoman-era history of a group which has always been neglected in chronicle-based works; and in doing so; fundamentally calls into question the historic place within 'Lebanon' of what has today become the country's largest and most activist sectarian community.
#942313 in Books Everyman s Library 2015-09-08 2015-09-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.30 x 1.01 x 5.21l; 1.25 #File Name: 1101907606344 pagesEveryman s Library
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Word About the Bookbinder's ArtBy Michael KearSince most readers are already well acquainted with the content of this volume; The Autobiography as well as a small selection of Franklin's other writings; I want to focus this review on the construction of this book. First; let me say that I collect books published by Everyman's Library and have always been a huge fan of their look; feel; and durable binding. This particular book was printed and bound in Germany by GGP Media. As with other volumes of the EL series; this book is bound in a cloth cover. It's important to distinguish between a mere "hardcover;" which is usually just a cover made of paper-covered cardboard; and a cloth cover book. A cloth cover is just that - a hardbound book with cloth; actual fabric; over the covers. This kind of cover is old school; reminiscent of the great bookbinders of yesteryear. The book block itself is sewn; not glued; Again; this is an old school way of binding a book to last. And that's the point! Everyman's Library is a collection meant to pass on to your children and grandchildren. Over the cloth covers; the EL comes with a tasteful dust jacket. I must also mention that this volume comes with an olive green ribbon marker.The paper used in this volume is exceptionally nice. It is thick; opaque; creamy. The type is set in Bembo which was originally cut by the punch-cutter Francesco Griffo for the Venetian printer-publisher Aldus Manutius in early 1495. It is very readable and easy on the eyes.This volume retails for $26.95; which is an exceptional value for the level of quality. 's price is even better!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Another outstanding publication by one of the best English-languageBy Robert MooreBenjamin Franklin has always been one of the most important Americans but has been differently valued from one generation to another. He is frequently reforged as a self-made man; a free market capitalist before Adam Smith; but those are not accurate stereotypes. Franklin was acutely aware that he owed his success in the world in large part to others who were not in a position to benefit from their labors as he. This is why he was such a strong advocate for a strongly progressive tax system. It was only fair; he argued; that those like himself; who benefitted more from a system in which so many participated; should pay a larger share. Franklin may have been rugged; but he was hardly an individualist. Neither was he much of a free marketer. He in fact shared the conviction of many of his time that government needed to discipline the market; that those involved in trade were too self-interested to regulate themselves. So strong; in fact; was his conviction that he refused to engage in political activity until he had retired from market activity. Like Adam Smith; he felt that those in the market should abstain from serving in the public sector until his personal interests no longer conflicted with the general good. Unlike many ideologues from today; Franklin never; ever confused private and public good. When the two conflicted; Franklin always sided with the public good.Not that Franklin felt that all individuals were made of equal parts. He was keenly aware of his own achievements and self-worth. He was; at the height of his public career; quite possibly the most celebrated individual in the world; as lauded in France and England as in the Colonies. Even during the war for American independence he remained respected in England; maintaining a correspondence with many of England's greatest minds. Needless to say; Franklin was aware that his story was one he wanted to share and others were anxious to hear. Sadly; he was never able to complete his autobiography. He wrote much of what we have in 1771; while living in England; and the rest in fits and starts through the rest of his life; world events preventing him from working on it at any length. When he did finally have the time; his famous rotund figure shrunken to nothing due to his heavy use of opium to combat the intense pain that dominated his life.What is perhaps shocking to many who read this is what an unflashy book it is. One might say it was almost Puritanical; so stripped it was of artifice and literary device. It is a somber reflection on his life; almost a how-to manual for those who wanted to achieve the kind of life that he had. Sadly; the account stops short of his public career. For many of us; that would have been the most interesting part of his book. As a result; the book has always been a little imbalanced. We get the private Franklin; but not the later; public; more famous one.I love Everyman's classics - the paper; the font; the cloth the boards are wrapped in; and the intros; and this is no exception. Normally; if a title is available in an Everyman's; that is the edition I prefer; but there are exceptions; and this might be one of those. This is the fourth edition of Franklin's autobiography that I have added to my library. Besides the Everyman's; I also have the Library of America edition; a Penguin Classic edition; and the Yale Nota Bene edition. The Library of America has a large number of works beside the autobiography; but like most Library of America volumes; it has a disappointing amount of critical material. To be honest; I very rarely read Library of America editions unless there is no other source for the text. This is really unfortunate because the texts themselves are almost always the best available; as with their Melville volumes. So while you won't find a better text of almost all the editions; you can almost always find more useful ones. Still; if you have all of the LOA volumes; you have a tremendous study aide. The Yale is perhaps the best standalone edition; with a great Intro and all kinds of detailed notes on the history of the text. The Penguin is also a very fine edition; with lots of fine supplements and notes by Kenneth Silverman. All things considered; I think the Penguin will be my edition of choice for a very simple reason; perhaps a concession to age: I love the font.I do like the Everyman's edition and the extra texts are great. It features a good intro by Jill Lepore. But do I like it overall more than the Penguin? I think it is merely a question of cost. You get about the same value for a lot less money. Nonetheless; if you - like I frequently am - intent on getting the Everyman's; you certainly won't be doing yourself a disservice. Everyman's is a great imprint and each new edition that they publish makes me even a bigger fan than I always was. These; along with their recent outstanding collection of Edmund Burke's works; shows that they continue to be one of the best presses around today.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great writing. Excellent quality book.By Narut UjnatI will review this book on two points. The first is the content of the written material; which is much of the writings of Benjamin Franklin; including his autobiography.On this basis; this is excellent and classic American reading. Franklin was truly a autodidact that created so many inventions we take for granted today; whether the library; postal system amongst others. He was truly a founding genius; without mentioning his contributions to political thought in the American colonies.His writings are interesting and quintessentially American. This book deserves to be read thoroughly and widely; though the audience will unfortunately be small. Whether correspondence on various matters; or essays; it is always interesting reading and also his writing gives lessons in good efficient writing as well.As to the book itself; this is part of the series of Everyman's Library; which has been published for decades and such books are available in used bookstores because they are an excellent value. This new edition is easily as well made. The bookjacket is of high quality and the book binding is excellent. This is clearly made at a higher level than the average hardcover you find at a bookstore - or purchase online. In other words; the quality is excellent and seems as it will last a long time.
