Although leo the african was amin maaloufs first book, the novel was. This is a paper originally published in alandalusmagreb. Although he writes in french, his native tongue is arabic. It follows the renaissanceera traveller leo africanus, but since very little is. Yeats first referred to leo, so far as we can determine, in some. This engaging summary presents an analysis of leo the african by amin maalouf, a historical novel which paints a vivid image of many of the most important events of the 16th century. Jan, 2007 for this reader, the book is a source of deep misgiving, at best a monument to misapplied learning.
Travel through morocco, following the footsteps of leo africanus, a 16th century moroccan adventurer. But all of these people were at most mere colonists, and influenced the population of the country very little. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Description of timbuktu from the description of africa 1526 november 4, 2016 elizabeth. But war is brewing, and leo is lucky to be able to escape beseiged rome and set sail back to africa. Jun 02, 2018 the book went through many editions and was translated into latin, french, and english.
The life and travels of leo africanus quintus curtius. His stories were considered valuable descriptions of the muslim world for hundreds of year and although a work of fiction, based on hasan alwazzans writings, the events of the story are largely historically accurate. Leo africanus summary and analysis like sparknotes free book. This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of leo africanus by amin maalouf. Leo africanuss geographical history of africa the british. Leo africanus is a 1986 novel written in french by amin maalouf, depicting the life of a historical renaissanceera traveler, leo africanus. Alhasan alwazzanborn in granada to a muslim family that in 1492 went to morocco, where he traveled extensively on behalf of the sultan of fezis known to historians as leo africanus, author of the first geography of africa to be published in europe in 1550. His family left spain for morocco when he was a small child. Also includes sites with a short overview, synopsis, book report, or summary of amin maaloufs leo africanus. View notes leo africanus reading notes from hum 212 at pepperdine university. Although leo the african was amin maaloufs first book, the novel was met with widespread acclaim when it was first published. Daviss last chapter, which imagines a meeting between leo africanus and the french writer. The journey starts in al andalus before the fall of granada and winds its way through fez, timbuktu, cairo, constantinople, mecca, and rome amongst other cities. Apr 08, 2011 leo africanus certainly draws the reader in and at every page has one guessing where fate or luck will lead him next.
The book was regarded among his scholarly peers in europe as the most authoritative treatise on the subject until the modern exploration of africa. Leo africanus by amin maalouf overdrive rakuten overdrive. His stories were considered valuable descriptions of the muslim world for hundreds of year and although a work of fiction, based on hasan alwazzans writings. Stirring in the reader the same curiosity and passion held by hasan. Book from the collections of university of california language english volume 3. He serves her as a tracking recorder of the mediterranean world in the early 16th century.
This summary of leo africanus includes a complete plot overview spoilers. An engrossing study of leo africanus and his famous book, which introduced africa to european readers. Through the adventures of a wise, courageous traveler, this excellent historical novel recreates the era when the moors were expelled from spain, and much of. Those who are simply looking for a good read can rest assure that the life of leo both in reality and in this novel is sufficiently interesting. Abstract hasan ibn muhammad alwazzan, better known as joannes leo africanus, was born in the muslim kingdom of granada just a few years before it was conquered by the christians in 1492. Leo africanus leo africanus description of timbuktu from. His last name, alwazzan, means the weighmaster, indicates that they were a commercial family, heavily involved in trades and business.
Leo the african by amin maalouf book analysis brightsummaries. The year of salma alhurra met sulaiman, grandfather of hasan met salma, mother of. The book makes observations on the african character that have had a profound influence on how europeans from the early modern period onward imagine africa and its peoples. Leo africanus was a world traveler, scholar, adventurer and diplomat to the ottoman empire as well as to the papacy just as the protestant reformation was. Victoria aveyard cassandra clare sarah dessen john green sarah j. The history and description of africa and of the notable. Leo the african by amin maalouf book analysis by bright. As with most children at the time, he was entered into the greatest centre of learning at the time, the madrassa of alqarawiyyin.
Aug 31, 2016 joannes leo africanus, was a berber andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his book descrittione dellafrica describing the geography of north africa. It is a fictionalized account of the life of the renaissanceera traveler leo africanus and his involvement in many of the most important historical events of the 16th century. Leo africanus reading notes the year of salma alhurra met. Since very little is actually known about his life, the book fills in the historical episodes, placing leo in the company of many of the key historical figures of his time, including three popes, leo x, adrian vi, and pope clement vii, two ottoman. Leo africanus writings on africa had a considerable influence on all later writers on africa. Leo africanus reading notes the year of salma alhurra.
The book was first written in 1550 by a moorish traveller and linguistic scholar known as john leo africanus c. There he would have studied quran and fiqh islamic jurisprudence, as well as grammar, rhetoric. His rihla book of travels, of which ibn battuta in black africa is an excerpt, remains one of the most important documents of a great age of travel, commerce, and exploration. Leo the african is amin maaloufs first book, although he later received the prix goncourt for his novel the rock of tanios and went on to become a member of the academie francaise. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Hasan ibn muhammad alwazzan, better known as joannes leo africanus, was born in the muslim kingdom of granada just a few years before it.
Leo africanus, traveler whose writings remained for some 400 years one of europes principal sources of information about islam. Sites like sparknotes with a leo africanus study guide or cliff notes. Whereas shakespeare adopts cinthios basic story, his source for the characterization of othello was likely a geographical historie of africa, written in 1550 by the north african diplomat known as joannes leo africanus. Find out everything you need to know about leo the african in a fraction of the time. Leo africanus summary and analysis like sparknotes free. His family fled the inquisition and took him to the city of fez, in north africa. Ibn battuta in black africaby abu abdalla ibn battutathe literary work a travel narrative set in east africa from 29 to 31 and in west africa from 52 to 54. Leo africanus is a 1986 novel written in french by amin maalouf, depicting the life of a historical renaissance era traveler, leo africanus. History and description of africa 1526 leo africanus introduction alhassan ibnmuhammad alwazzan alfasi, better known as leo africanus, was probably born in the 1460s in granada, the last muslim toehold in spain, but was raised in fez in modern morocco.
But it is above all a book about leos silences regarding himself. It relates, poetically at times and often imaginatively, the story of those who did not make it to the new world. The diplomat and traveler now known as leo africanus was born hasan ibn muhammad alwazan alfasi. Unlock the more straightforward side of leo the african with this concise and insightful summary and analysis. He was unanimously respected as the most authoritative source for the political and human geography of the barbary coast and sudanic. The man with many names1 pekka masonen the sixteenthcentury andalusi adventurer leo africanus was a household name amidst european geographers for almost three centuries.
Since very little is actually known about his life, the book fills in the historical episodes, placing leo in the company of many of the key historical figures of his time. Theres little i can add to the laudatory comments on maaloufs book leo africanus. Leo africanus and 1 related entities entities finder. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Leo africanus by amin maalouf goodreads share book. Joannes leo africanus, was a berber andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his book descrittione dellafrica describing the geography of. Leo africanus is a beautiful book of tales about people who are forced to accept choices made for them by someone else. This period was not a favorable one to be an andalusian arab in spain, as the last vestiges of. Most modern scholars have written about leo africanus, but davis prefers to call him alwazzan when he is in morocco and yuhanna alasad arabic for john the lion when in italy.
Hasan and his family were forced to flee to fez, where he grew up and became a very welloff merchant. This work, which john pory translated into english in 1600, provided more than just a geographical survey of africa. Apr 20, 2011 leo africanus writings on africa had a considerable influence on all later writers on africa. The book makes observations on the african character that have had a profound. While maaloufs treatment of this historical figure is necessarily guesswork, the rest of the novel is vividly researched and factually accurate, as we meet many of the main historical figures of the time through leos travels. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The book, a detailed account of africa, its trade routes, geography, terrain, and people was an exceptionally important source of information on the continent and is generally considered the first book written by a person of primarily african descent.
It was translated into english in 1600 by john pory. The history and description of africa by leo, africanus, ca. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading leo africanus. The story follows hasan from granada in spain, throughout north africa, rome, and various other places. History and description of africa 1526 leo africanus. In 1986, the lebanesefrench author amin maalouf published leo africanus, a historical novel that expands and fictionalizes what little we know about the reallife sixteenthcentury explorer and traveler leo africanus whose birth name was hasan alwazza. Buy leo africanus by amin maalouf online at alibris. For this work, leo became a household name among european geographers. Hasan and his family were forced to flee to fez, where he grew up and became a very welloff. The year of salma alhurra met sulaiman, grandfather of hasan met salma, mother of hasan met sarah, who argued that. Of their virtues, leo africanus writes that africans are supremely honest and. It follows the renaissanceera traveller leo africanus, but since very little is actually. An important historical source on the moors appeared in 1550, when a moorish convert to christianity named johannes leo africanus published a geographical history of africa.
Born as alhasan ibn muhammad alwazzan alfasi in granada in the 1490s, hasan is forced into exile as a child after the spanish reconquista. For this reader, the book is a source of deep misgiving, at best a monument to misapplied learning. If there is a sparknotes, shmoop, or cliff notes guide, we will have it listed. Nothing outside any window could be more thrilling than the sights shown by hasan alwazzan, the 16thcentury. Thus wrote leo africanus, in his fortieth year, in this imaginary autobiography of the famous geographer, adventurer, and scholar hasan alwazzan, who was born in granada in 1488. Hasan ibn muhammad alwazzan, better known as joannes leo africanus, was born in the muslim kingdom of granada just a few years before it was conquered by the christians in 1492.
He settled in morocco, and traveled broadly through north africa. Find all available study guides and summaries for leo africanus by amin maalouf. Educated at fes, in morocco, leo africanus traveled widely as a young man on commercial and diplomatic missions through north africa and may also have visited the city of. For all the buckles that get swashed in leo the african, this is a book of understanding. In about 1494, leo africanus was born in granada, a city at the foot of the sierra nevada. Leo africanus summary and analysis like sparknotes. Leo africanus15th century geographer extraordinaire. If i had put down that bloody book and looked out of the bloody.
Those familiar with africanus will appreciate maaloufs use of historical facts to season his gripping story. Although several critics have commented on the first appearance of the spirit of leo africanus to yeats and a few have examined the unpublished manuscript of yeatss dialogue with him, 1 no one has pointed out either the extent of yeatss preoccupation or the significance of his changing conception of leo. Synopsis ibn battuta recounts his voyage to the east african coast, and a. Leo africanus or alhasan ibn muhammad alwazzan,is a terrific tale retold by amin maalouf. Moorish man of learning is a brief introduction to leo. Leo africanus is an epic travel journey seen from the eyes of our protagonist hasan who assumes many identities over 40 years of time period depicted in the book. Joannes leo africanus was a berber andalusi diplomat and author who is best known for his book descrittione dell africa centered on the geography of the maghreb and nile valley.
Such is the case with the titular moorish traveler in amin maaloufs 1986 book, leo africanus. Scholars suspect that shakespeares characterization of othello draws from the account leo africanus gives of africans virtues and vices. Page lxv the narrative of robert adams, a sailor, who was wrecked on the western coast of africa in the year 1810, was detained three years in slavery by the arabs of the great desert, and resided several months in the city of tombuctoo. Events in history at the time the account takes place the dar alislam. The description of africa by leo africanus historywiz. We cannot read through this book without dreaming of a time when we may be able to let destiny sweep us along an unknown path. This sets the tone for his life, as hes constantly on the move. Learn about his life, the morocco that was and the morocco that is today.
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