The Koran in English: A Biography (Lives of Great Religious Books)

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Review ------ Exploring the motivations, reactions, and inspirations for other activities makes this work not only unique but also valuable for those trying to evaluate the discussions surrounding translations of the Koran.---Muhammed Hassanali, Booklist Lawrence makes the story of the Qur'an in English as informative as it is fascinating.---Jack Miles, Los Angeles Review of Books Lively, open-minded and erudite. . . . You don't have to be a Muslim or all that religiously inclined to find this book, the latest installment in the sprightly Princeton University Press series called 'Lives of Great Religious Books, ' delightful reading.---Patrick Reardon, Chicago Tribune "At a moment when historically grounded reflection on European and American interactions with Islam and Muslims is vital, Bruce Lawrence offers an engaging and opinionated book based on wide-ranging scholarship. Accessible to adventurous beginners and illuminating for spets, The "Koran" in English is a terrific read."--Kecia Ali, author of Sexual Ethics and Islam: Feminist Reflections on Qur'an, Hadith, and Jurisprudence "Lawrence's lively and fascinating study ranges well beyond textual history. It probes the international politics of Qur'an publication and even showcases the recently completed graphic Qur'an of American artist Sandow Birk. There is nothing like this book."--Jane Dammen McAuliffe, editor of the Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an "Bruce Lawrence's The "Koran" in English is a masterful reception history of the Muslim scripture. A scripture is always a scripture to someone, and Lawrence takes us on a magical, erudite journey through the centuries. Here we see the Qur'an not as a text that floats above time and place, but read, internalized, contested, and engaged by a host of believers, scholars, mystics, artists, and polemicists. A rich and engaging read that could only come from the pen of one of the most brilliant and humane scholars of our time. Enthusiastically recommended for both scholarly audiences and wide readership!"--Omid Safi, Duke University "A major contribution. This book is the first systematic of the Qur'an in English translation and, I think, is destined to be a seminal work."--Ziauddin Sardar, author of Mecca: The Sacred City "This is an excellent book--and with recent interest in the Qur'an both positive and negative, the time is right for it."--Amir Hussain, coeditor of A Concise Introduction to World Religions Comprehensive. . . . Lawrence has done pathbreaking work for English-speaking students of the Qur'an.--Publishers Weekly [A] learned yet elegantly written (and handsomely illustrated) account.---Eric Ormsby, Times Literary Supplement From the Back Cover ------------------- "At a moment when historically grounded reflection on European and American interactions with Islam and Muslims is vital, Bruce Lawrence offers an engaging and opinionated book based on wide-ranging scholarship. Accessible to adventurous beginners and illuminating for spets, The "Koran" in English is a terrific read."--Kecia Ali, author of Sexual Ethics and Islam: Feminist Reflections on Qur'an, Hadith, and Jurisprudence "Lawrence's lively and fascinating study ranges well beyond textual history. It probes the international politics of Qur'an publication and even showcases the recently completed graphic Qur'an of American artist Sandow Birk. There is nothing like this book."--Jane Dammen McAuliffe, editor of the Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an "Bruce Lawrence's The "Koran" in English is a masterful reception history of the Muslim scripture. A scripture is always a scripture to someone, and Lawrence takes us on a magical, erudite journey through the centuries. Here we see the Qur'an not as a text that floats above time and place, but read, internalized, contested, and engaged by a host of believers, scholars, mystics, artists, and polemicists. A rich and engaging read that could only come from the pen of one of the most brilliant and humane scholars of our time. Enthusiastically recommended for both scholarly audiences and wide readership!"--Omid Safi, Duke University "A major contribution. This book is the first systematic of the Qur'an in English translation and, I think, is destined to be a seminal work."--Ziauddin Sardar, author of Mecca: The Sacred City "This is an excellent book--and with recent interest in the Qur'an both positive and negative, the time is right for it."--Amir Hussain, coeditor of A Concise Introduction to World Religions