The Republic of Arabic Letters

This award-winning book explores the lost cultural exchange between Catholic and Protestant intellectuals and Islamic civilization in the 17th and 18th centuries. It focuses on the pioneering Western scholars who produced the first accurate translations of the Qur'an, mapped Islamic arts and sciences, and introduced Europeans to the masterpieces of Arabic literature. The Republic of Arabic Letters reveals an affinity and respect for Islam that transcends cultural differences and celebrates the power of scholarship. A groundbreaking and engrossing read, it connects intellectual history with the material history of books.