Löwe und Schakal: Alt-Arabische Fabeln

Abstract

"Here is a fascinating book. It presents, for the first time in a European language, this 12th century anonymous Sunni animal story dealing, as does "Kalila and Dimna," with the question of how to rule. Its plot is distinctively different from that of KD. Those wanting a summary of that plot will find help both in the introduction here and on 87-90 of "Al-Ghazali's Philosophical Theology" by Frank Giffel. Giffel provides good insight on the philosophical and historical background of the leading jackal's philosophy. What we are dealing with in this book is the story of "The Lion and the Diver." Let me sketch the little I have learned of its basic plot. The "diver" is a wise jackal who is drawn into advising king lion and advises him well, particularly about the opposition of a buffalo. His success draws criticism and opposition of others -- who can forget KD in this regard?! -- and he suffers for it. When he is exonerated, he eschews public life, even in spite of the lion's offers to reinstate and honor him. This book's introduction also gives a good account of the history of this work. My impression from a quick glance over this work is that it includes far more dialogue and discussion and far fewer specific stories. I wonder even if there is not here one long "fable" rather than the interlocking and nesting fables of KD. Surprising to me is that the handful of lovely colored illustrations included in this work are explicitly from KD. Here is a treasure to be researched!"