Hikayaat

Hikayaat: Stories from Medieval Arabia, by Amr Jayousi, is a book of a 100 non-fiction stories taking place in Medieval Arabia (9th-14th century), and translated from various original medieval Arabic manuscripts. The stories are all meant to be universal and entertaining, and cover common themes in the "stories tradition" of Medieval Arabia, such as witticisms, chivalry, funny comebacks, wisecracks, bizarre occurrences and acts of heroism and genius. The translation style is casual and modern, and the stories are more "re-told" than translated from Arabic to English.PART ONE- INTELLIGENT STORIESStories of guys who promised something and regretted itStories of guys that gave their word and had to find a way around itStories of guys who thought outside the boxStories of guys in power who showed a lot of classStories of guys that had to think on their feetStories of guys that were big on chivalryStories of guys who showed a lot of loyaltyStories of guys who returned the favorPART TWO- BIZARRE STORIESStories of guys who almost had their heads chopped offStories of guys who shot themselves in the footStories of judges who had an interesting concept of justiceStories of "happily ever after"Stories of nights of debaucheryStories of guys who knew how to be subtle but effectiveStories of pranksters and scammersStories involving some interesting dreamsPART THREE- COMEDIC STORIESStories of kings and princes in disguiseStories of guys who knew how to force itStories that became proverbialStories with some good one-linersStories of guys who had an attitudeStories of guys who claimed to be divineStories of guys who showed up uninvitedStories of guys that verge on the absurd