Author Description

Front cover As before with IRAN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR IN ISLAMIC STUDIES flash in bottom right corner Spine As before Back cover WINNER OF THE IRANIAN BOOK PRIZE IN ISLAMIC STUDIES WINNER OF THE BRITISH-KUWAIT FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY PRIZE CHOICE OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC TITLE 'Islamic Calligraphy is a compendium of (almost) everything we know about the subject... [its publication] is a significant moment in the history of its subject... a real achievement.' Times Literary Supplement 'An essential key to understanding Islamic arts and civilization, this reference is not to be missed.' California Book Review 'This must be the best book ever written about Islamic Calligraphy.' Judges of the British-Kuwait Friendship Society Prize This stunning book is an important contribution to a key area of non-western art, being the first reference work on art of beautiful writing in Arabic script. The extensive use of writing is a hallmark of Islamic civilization. Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, became one of the main methods of artistic expression from the seventh century to the present in almost all regions from the far Maghrib, or Islamic West, to India and beyond. Arabic script was adopted for other languages from Persian and Turkish to Kanembu and Malay. Sheila Blair's groundbreaking book explains this art form to modern readers and shows them how to identify, understand and appreciate its varied styles and modes. The book is designed to offer a standardized terminology for identifying and describing various styles of Islamic calligraphy, and to help Westerners appreciate why calligraphy has long been so important in Islamic civilization. The argument is enhanced by the inclusion of more than 150 colour illustrations, as well as over 100 black-and-white details that highlight the salient features of the individual scripts and hands. Examples are chosen from dated or datable examples with secure provenance, for the problem of forgeries and copies (both medieval a