A Sufi Martyr. The Apologia of 'Ain al-Qudat al-Hamadhani.
London: George Allen and Unwin, 1969. First Edition. Hardcover. Octavo. 102pp (+ iipp publisher's adverts). Original red cloth with silver-gilt lettering to spine, bibliography. From the publisher: "The book here translated was composed by an eminent Sufi mystic whilst in prison in Baghdad, awaiting execution, in a vain attempt to overthrow his sentence; he was put to death in A.D. 1311, at the age of 33. This apologia is a document of great poignancy, composed in most elegant Arabic and translated with equal elegance for which A J Arberry became so well-known." The translator, Arthur John Arberry (1905 – 1969) was a highly respected scholar of Arabic, Persian, and Islamic studies whose latter years were spent as a Professor and Fellow at Cambridge University. Arberry's translations are still esteemed, and his work on Rumi was largely responsible for his introduction to the West. A modest touch of shelfwear. Weiser distribution label over publisher's imprint on title-page, just a hint of pale foxing to first and last few leaves, else a tight, bright and unmarked VG+ copy in VG dust jacket (Dust jacket quite rubbed, particularly at folds, and rear panel darkened. Pencil notes to rear turn-over. Price clipped. Now in protective mylar sleeve.). Item #70296
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