Fann al-Maqala
- Author died
- 1430 AH
- Editions
- Dār Ṣādir
Fann al-Maqala (The Art of the Essay) is a critical and historical study of the essay as a literary genre by the Palestinian scholar Muhammad Yusuf Najm (1925–2009 CE / d. 1430 AH), examining its historical origins and modern development in European and Arabic literature alongside its theoretical elements and classifications .
Scope and Structure
The book is organized into three principal parts followed by bibliographic references and indices :
- Part One: Essayistic Attempts Before Montaigne (القسم الأول: المحاولات المقالية قبل مونتين): Traces early antecedents of the essay before Michel de Montaigne, examining early Eastern literatures, Greek and Roman literature, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and classical Arabic literature .
- Part Two: The Essay in Its Modern Phase (القسم الثاني: المقالة في طورها الحديث): Investigates the emergence of the modern essay beginning with Montaigne and Francis Bacon, the development of English periodical essays in the eighteenth century, nineteenth-century essays, and the modern form. It then focuses on the essay in modern Arabic literature, the role of periodicals in its evolution, and prominent modern essayists .
- Part Three: The Art of the Essay (القسم الثالث: فن المقالة): Discusses definitions and critical debates surrounding the genre, distinguishes between subjective (المقالة الذاتية) and objective essays (المقالة الموضوعية), analyzes the subjective essay, its types, prominent practitioners, and literary value, and treats the characteristics of the objective essay .
The volume concludes with lists of Arabic and foreign sources, followed by general indices for individuals, books, and periodicals .
Themes and Methodology
In the theoretical section, Najm notes the difficulty of framing a comprehensive definition for the essay due to its varied forms and intersections with other literary genres, contrasting early definitions—such as Samuel Johnson's view of the essay as an irregular, undigested piece—with its refined modern artistic structure . In later introductions, he observed that modern essays had increasingly shifted from artistic, creative prose into tools of rapid journalism or condensed scientific and academic research .
Reception and Publication
Fann al-Maqala is regarded in Arabic literary curricula as a primary theoretical and practical reference on the history, foundations, and typology of the essay . The book was published in Beirut by Dar al-Thaqafa, appearing in several editions, including printings in 1957, 1966, 1967, and a fourth edition .
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