Listen to a sample
Arabs
- Author
- Tim Mackintosh-Smith
- Narrator
- Ralph Lister
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 30 April 2019
- Run Time
- 25 hours 35 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
A riveting, comprehensive history of the Arab peoples and tribes that explores the role of language as a cultural touchstone This kaleidoscopic book covers almost three thousand years of Arab history and shines a light on the footloose Arab peoples and tribes who conquered lands and disseminated their language and culture over vast distances. Tracing this process to the origins of the Arabic language, rather than the advent of Islam, Tim Mackintosh-Smith begins his narrative more than a thousand years before Muhammad and focuses on how Arabic, both spoken and written, has functioned as a vital source of shared cultural identity over the millennia.
Mackintosh-Smith reveals how linguistic developments—from pre-Islamic poetry to the growth of script, Muhammad’s use of writing, and the later problems of printing Arabic—have helped and hindered the progress of Arab history, and investigates how, even in today’s politically fractured post–Arab Spring environment, Arabic itself is still a source of unity and disunity.
Critics Review
-
"[A] superb account of the Arabs over three millennia.”
Wall Street Journal
-
“Commanding erudition and a swashbuckling style define this history of the Arabs.”
Sunday Times (London)
-
"[An] extraordinary new survey.”
New Statesman
-
“There can hardly be a better guide than Mackintosh-Smith, who has near-mythical status among western observers of the Middle East.”
Irish Times (Dublin)
See more reviews See fewer reviews
-
“Although Mackintosh-Smith’s book is perfectly scholarly, it is not a dutiful plod through a succession of slaughtered sultans and viziers…On the contrary, Arabs keeps throwing out brilliant insights, like sparks from a Catherine wheel.”
Literary Review
-
“This brilliant and fascinating history book will change the way we analyze the happenings in the Arab world.”
Washington Book Review
-
“A marvelous journey brimming with adventure and poetry and narrated by a keen, compassionate observer.”
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
-
“Strips away centuries of erroneous myth-making…Anyone hoping to understand, let alone write about the Middle East, will need to read and inhale this profound, witty, and scholarly achievement.”
Barnaby Rogerson, author of The Last Crusaders
-
“Quite brilliant…I am full of admiration for this inspiring book, with its quite original and timely view of Arab historical identity.”
Philip Kennedy, author of Recognition in the Arabic Narrative Tradition
-
“Superb. What really distinguishes this book from others is the sheer number of its insights into Arab history, all of which are tantalizing.”
Steven C. Caton, professor of contemporary Arab studies at Harvard University
-
“Arabs is a refined and pleasing tour through the history of a remarkable people, civilization, and language.”
Jonathan A. C. Brown, Alwaleed bin Talal Chair of Islamic Civilization at Georgetown University
User Reviews
No reviews yet.
Details
- Author
- Tim Mackintosh-Smith
- Narrator
- Ralph Lister
- Duration
- 25 hours 35 minutes
- Release Date
- 30 April 2019
- ISBN
- 9781982666132
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Middle Eastern history
Synopsis
A riveting, comprehensive history of the Arab peoples and tribes that explores the role of language as a cultural touchstone This kaleidoscopic book covers almost three thousand years of Arab history and shines a light on the footloose Arab peoples and tribes who conquered lands and disseminated their language and culture over vast distances. Tracing this process to the origins of the Arabic language, rather than the advent of Islam, Tim Mackintosh-Smith begins his narrative more than a thousand years before Muhammad and focuses on how Arabic, both spoken and written, has functioned as a vital source of shared cultural identity over the millennia. Mackintosh-Smith reveals how linguistic developments—from pre-Islamic poetry to the growth of script, Muhammad’s use of writing, and the later problems of printing Arabic—have helped and hindered the progress of Arab history, and investigates how, even in today’s politically fractured post–Arab Spring environment, Arabic itself is still a source of unity and disunity.
About xigxag
xigxag is an independent, UK-based audiobook platform and the UK's only B Corp certified audiobook company. We offer nearly 150,000 audiobooks, all with professional human narration. No AI-generated voices. xigxag is rated an Ethical Consumer Best Buy for audiobooks and a top-rated ethical bookshop.
There is no subscription. You buy the audiobooks you want, you own them permanently, and prices start at $13.95. The more you listen over the year, the less you pay per book, and there is always a selection in Listen for Less from $7.95. You can also send audiobooks as gifts using our audiobook gift cards or in-app gifting.
Every audiobook on xigxag has honest reviews covering both the book and the narration, and our community features make it easy to share what you are listening to, discover what others recommend, and find your next listen.
Download or stream on iOS, Android, or in your browser. Browse the full catalogue at xigxag.co.uk.