Author Description

There are few more important books to have emerged from medieval Spain than The Legend of Hayy ibn Yaqzan (‘Alive, Son of Awake’), a philosophic tale composed by Abu Bakh Muhammad ibn Tufail. It stands alongside Cervantes’ Don Quixote as one of the major works of literature to have been written on the Peninsular in the post-classical period. It also rivals the works of Seneca and Martial, both worthy sons of ancient Hispania. A visionary tale, Hayy sets the scene for all other spiritual journeys, from Dante’s Divine Comedy to Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. The Legend of Hayy ibn Yaqzan is one of the great stories of all ages; it tells us that spiritual aspiration is the most important journey that we can make in our lives.This newly formatted edition includes an extensive Introduction to the life and thought of Abu Bakh Muhammad ibn Tufail by James Cowan.