Well known throughout the Islamic world as the foundational thinker for a significant portion of the contemporary Muslim intelligentsia; Sayyid Qutb (1906–1966) was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and was jailed by Gamal Abdul Nasser’s government in 1954. He became one of the most uncompromising voices of the movement we now call Islamism and is perhaps best known for his book; Ma`lam fi al-tariq. A Child from the Village was written just prior to Qutb’s conversion to the Islamist cause and reflects his concerns for social justice. Interst in Qutb’s writing has increased in the West since Islamism has emerged as a power on the world scene.In this memoir; Qutb recalls his childhood in the village of Musha in Upper Egypt. He chronicles the period between 1912 and 1918; a time immensely influential in the creation of modern Egypt. Written with much tenderness toward childhood memories; it has become a classic in modern Arabic autobiography. Qutb offers a clear picture of Egyptian village life in the early twentieth century; its customs and lore; educational system; religious festivals; relations with the central government; and the struggle to modernize and retain its identity. Translators John Calvert and William Shepard capture the beauty and intensity of Qutb’s prose.
#3930684 in Books NYU Press 1999-03-01 1999-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x .97 x 5.98l; 2.08 #File Name: 0814793290424 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great book; well writtenBy Rollie LalThis book provides the essential background for understanding Algeria today. Well written and interesting to boot. I highly recommend it for understanding how the Islamist movement in North Africa has evolved; and why extremism in Algeria should come as no surprise.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Algeria Overcomes the Islamic ChallengeBy Neil KarlThis is an interesting read in that the book describes how Algeria how escaped becoming an Islamic state. Each government feared the rise of an Islamic state even though the citizens could not relate to the Iranian experience. The government; for each election; delicately prevented the Islamic parties from achieving the majority; and thereby maintaining democracy.5 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Excellent account offering valuable insightsBy DR. BERNARD LEEMANDr Michael Willis's book is an excellent and very readable account of events that led to the present crisis in Algeria. It also provides valuable insights; applicable to different parts of the world; into what happens where an elite fails to address the democratically expressed aspirations of desperate people at the bottom of the socio-economic pile. Of particular interest is the work of fundamentalist Muslim activists attempting to alleviate social and economic pressures at the grass-roots level.
