Ibn Abi Tahir Tayfur and Arabic Writerly Culture

Toorawa re-evaluates the literary history and landscape of  third to ninth century Baghdad by demonstrating and emphasizing the significance of the important transition from a predominantly oral-aural culture to an increasingly literate one. This transformation had a profound influence on the production of learned and literary culture; modes of transmission of learning; nature and types of literary production; nature of scholarly and professional occupations and alliances; and ranges of meanings of certain key concepts such as plagiarism. In order to better understand these attention is focused on a central but understudied figure Ibn Abi Tahir Tayfur (d. 280 to 893) a writer schoolmaster scholar and copyist member of important literary circles and a significant anthologist and chronicler. This book will appeal to anyone interested in Arabic literary culture and history and those with an interest in books writing authorship and patronage.