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Full Description
National Jewish Book Awards Winner
of Sephardic Studies Award, 2001.
The Book of Tahkemoni (The Book of Wisdom or the Heroic) is widely regarded as the crowning jewel of Hebrew maqama literature —rhymed prose interspersed with verse. In its fifty unlinked episodes we repeatedly encounter the somewhat roguish protagonist, Hever the Kenite, often disguised and assuming many and varied roles—teacher, beggar, adventurer, debater, magician, and so on.
Whether preaching, spinning history or fantasy, or working a crowd, Hever the Kenite is ever a consummate story-teller and wordsmith enlightening or astounding his listeners. The author, generally considered to be the last major Hebrew poet of Spain, displays great scope, moving from prayers to tales of battlefield carnage, from philosophic reflection to droll satire targeting the pompous, the ignorant, and the mean.
The whole is conveyed in a sensuous interweave of rhyme and rhythm, of literal and figurative speech, and copious biblical citations manipulated to serve unusual ends. David Simha Segal's translation captures the drama, wit, and satire of the original in a contemporary English that displays vigour and a sense of fun. Detailed annotations, printed on the same page as the text, identify the numerous allusions.
Analyses of each chapter bring the reader more deeply into the text, illuminating plays on words, adroit uses of the frame tale, adaptations of Arabic and Hebrew literary conventions, and other subtleties of the original.
A substantial Afterword sums up major features discussed in the analyses, especially the authorial game of hide-and-seek in the characters of the protagonist and the narrator.
Contents
Abbreviations and Conventions Used in the Text
Translator's preface
The Book of Tahkemoni
Introduction
Gates
1 Whence this Work Sprung and by Whom it Was Sung
2 Brimstone and Wrath against the Worldly Path
3 The Mystery and History of the Hebrew Song of Spain
4 A Descant on the Flea and the Ant
5 Twelve Poets Sound the Months' Round
6 Of One Too Swiftly Sped to the Marriage Bed
7 Of Battle Lords and Dripping Swords
8 In Praise of a Letter of Praise Read Two Ways
9 Poetic Invention: One and Thirty in Contention
10 Of Rustic Propriety and Winged Piety
11 Of Verbal Show: Using and Refusing the Letter O
12 Of the Ferocity of the Wars of Stint and Generosity
13 Wherein Shall a Man be Whole? A Debate of Body, Mind, and Soul
14 Of a Prayer Beyond Price Hewn from the Mountain of Spice
15 A Prayer Sent where Grace Reposes: A Prayer to Godly Moses
16 Airs of Song's Seven Heirs
17 Rabbanite versus Karaite
18 The Rise and Reign of Monarchs of Song in Hebrew Spain
19 Of a Dispute of Poets Seven: Which Virtue is Dearest in the Eyes of Heaven
20 Of Seven Maidens and their Mendacity
21 Of a Sumptuous Feast and a Bumpkin Fleeced
22 Of Fate's Rack and the Zodiac
23 Of Hever the Kenite's Wretched Hour and Sudden Rise to Wealth and Power
24 Of A Jolly Cantor and Folly Instanter
25 Of a Hid Place and a Champion of the Chase
26 Travels: Kudos and Cavils
27 Of the Cup's Joys and Other Alloys
28 Praise and Pity for David's City
29 Beggars' Arts versus Frozen Hearts
30 Of a Quack and his Bogus Pack
31 Of a Mocking Knight and a Wormwood Cup of Fright
32 Needlepoint: Point-Counterpoint
33 Homily, Hymn, and Homonym
34 Of a Host Bombastic and a Feast Fantastic
35 Of the Grave of Ezra the Blest and Poems Celeste
36 Challenge and Reply: Sweet Words Fly
37 In the Clasp of a Deadly Asp
38 Of Men and Ship in the Storm's Grip
39 The Debate of Day and Night: Whose the Greater Might and Delight
40 The Battle of Sword and Pen for Mastery of Men
41 Badinage: Man and Woman Rage
42 Generosity or Greed-Which the Better Creed or Deed?
43 The Sea Roars its Worth against Proud Earth
44 Life's Laws: Proverbs and Saws
45 Hid Learning: Saws of Men of Discerning
46 Of This and That Community Sung with Impunity
47 Nation Contends with Nation for Rank and Station
48 The Heart's Grief and Relief
49 In Praise of the Fruits of the Garden Trees
50 Varia and Nefaria
Analyses
Introduction
Gates 1-50
Afterword
Bibliography
Index of Biblical References
Index of Persons and Peoples
Index of Places
General Index
