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Full Description
The Book of Tahkemoni (The Book of Wisdom or the Heroic) is widely regarded as the crowning jewel of Hebrew maqama literature -rhymed prose interspersed with verse. In its fifty unlinked episodes we repeatedly encounter the somewhat roguish protagonist, Hever the Kenite, often disguised and assuming many and varied roles-teacher, beggar, adventurer, debater, magician, and so on.Whether preaching, spinning history or fantasy, or working a crowd, Hever the Kenite is ever a consummate story-teller and wordsmith enlightening or astounding his listeners. The author, generally considered to be the last major Hebrew poet of Spain, displays great scope, moving from prayers to tales of battlefield carnage, from philosophic reflection to droll satire targeting the pompous, the ignorant, and the mean.The whole is conveyed in a sensuous interweave of rhyme and rhythm, of literal and figurative speech, and copious biblical citations manipulated to serve unusual ends. David Simha Segal's translation captures the drama, wit, and satire of the original in a contemporary English that displays vigour and a sense of fun. Detailed annotations, printed on the same page as the text, identify the numerous allusions. Analyses of each chapter bring the reader more deeply into the text, illuminating plays on words, adroit uses of the frame tale, adaptations of Arabic and Hebrew literary conventions, and other subtleties of the original. A substantial Afterword sums up major features discussed in the analyses, especially the authorial game of hide-and-seek in the characters of the protagonist and the narrator.
Contents
Abbreviations and Conventions Used in the Text Translator's preface The Book of Tahkemoni Introduction Gates 1 Whence this Work Sprung and by Whom it Was Sung 2 Brimstone and Wrath against the Worldly Path 3 The Mystery and History of the Hebrew Song of Spain 4 A Descant on the Flea and the Ant 5 Twelve Poets Sound the Months' Round 6 Of One Too Swiftly Sped to the Marriage Bed 7 Of Battle Lords and Dripping Swords 8 In Praise of a Letter of Praise Read Two Ways 9 Poetic Invention: One and Thirty in Contention 10 Of Rustic Propriety and Winged Piety 11 Of Verbal Show: Using and Refusing the Letter O 12 Of the Ferocity of the Wars of Stint and Generosity 13 Wherein Shall a Man be Whole? A Debate of Body, Mind, and Soul 14 Of a Prayer Beyond Price Hewn from the Mountain of Spice 15 A Prayer Sent where Grace Reposes: A Prayer to Godly Moses 16 Airs of Song's Seven Heirs 17 Rabbanite versus Karaite 18 The Rise and Reign of Monarchs of Song in Hebrew Spain 19 Of a Dispute of Poets Seven: Which Virtue is Dearest in the Eyes of Heaven 20 Of Seven Maidens and their Mendacity 21 Of a Sumptuous Feast and a Bumpkin Fleeced 22 Of Fate's Rack and the Zodiac 23 Of Hever the Kenite's Wretched Hour and Sudden Rise to Wealth and Power 24 Of A Jolly Cantor and Folly Instanter 25 Of a Hid Place and a Champion of the Chase 26 Travels: Kudos and Cavils 27 Of the Cup's Joys and Other Alloys 28 Praise and Pity for David's City 29 Beggars' Arts versus Frozen Hearts 30 Of a Quack and his Bogus Pack 31 Of a Mocking Knight and a Wormwood Cup of Fright 32 Needlepoint: Point-Counterpoint 33 Homily, Hymn, and Homonym 34 Of a Host Bombastic and a Feast Fantastic 35 Of the Grave of Ezra the Blest and Poems Celeste 36 Challenge and Reply: Sweet Words Fly 37 In the Clasp of a Deadly Asp 38 Of Men and Ship in the Storm's Grip 39 The Debate of Day and Night: Whose the Greater Might and Delight 40 The Battle of Sword and Pen for Mastery of Men 41 Badinage: Man and Woman Rage 42 Generosity or Greed-Which the Better Creed or Deed? 43 The Sea Roars its Worth against Proud Earth 44 Life's Laws: Proverbs and Saws 45 Hid Learning: Saws of Men of Discerning 46 Of This and That Community Sung with Impunity 47 Nation Contends with Nation for Rank and Station 48 The Heart's Grief and Relief 49 In Praise of the Fruits of the Garden Trees 50 Varia and Nefaria Analyses Introduction Gates 1-50 Afterword Bibliography Index of Biblical References Index of Persons and Peoples Index of Places General Index
