What will you learn from this book
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Identity and Reinvention: Lev Nussimbaum's life story is a testament to the complexity of identity. He reinvented himself multiple times, adopting various personas, including a Muslim prince named Essad Bey.
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Cultural Exploration: The book delves into Nussimbaum's fascination with the Orient and his deep exploration of Eastern cultures, particularly the Muslim world.
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Literary Contributions: Despite the controversies surrounding his identity, Nussimbaum made significant literary contributions, including works that provided insights into Eastern culture and politics.
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Political Climate: The book provides insights into the political upheavals of the early 20th century, particularly in the Caucasus and the Middle East, where Nussimbaum's life unfolded.
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Impact of World Events: Nussimbaum's life was greatly influenced by major world events such as World War I, the Russian Revolution, and the rise of Nazi Germany.
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Religious and Ethnic Complexity: The book navigates the complexities of religion and ethnicity, especially concerning Nussimbaum's Jewish heritage and his adoption of Muslim identity.
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Quest for Freedom: Nussimbaum's life reflects a quest for freedom, both personally and in the context of the political and social landscapes of his time.
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Mystery and Intrigue: The book unveils the mystery surrounding Nussimbaum's life, tracing his fascinating journey through different identities and countries.
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Impact on Literature and Culture: Nussimbaum's writings and the enigma of his life had a lasting impact on literature, offering unique perspectives on Eastern cultures.
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Legacy and Controversy: His legacy remains controversial, with debates about the authenticity of his narratives and the ethics of assuming different identities.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10 | 0-099-48377-7 |
| ISBN-13 | 9780099483779 |
| No of pages | 433 |
| Font Size | Medium |
| Book Publisher | Vintage Books |
| Published Date | 06 Jul 2006 |
About Author
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The Orientalist unravels the mysterious life of a man born on the border between West and East, a Jewish man with a passion for the Arab world. Tom Reiss first came across the man who called himself 'Kurban Said' when he went to the ex-USSR to research the oil business on the Caspian Sea, and discovered a novel instead. Written on the eve of the Second World War, Ali and Nino is a captivating love story set in the glamorous city of Baku, Azerbaijan's capital.
The novel's depiction of a lost cosmopolitan society is enthralling, but equally intriguing is the identity of the man who wrote it. Who was its supposed author? And why was he so forgotten that no one could agree on the simplest facts about him? For five years, Reiss tracked Lev Nussimbaum, alias Kurban Said, from a wealthy Jewish childhood in Baku, to a romantic adolescence in Persia on the run from the Bolsheviks, and an exile in Berlin as bestselling author and self-proclaimed Muslim prince. The result is a thoroughly unexpected picture of the twentieth-century - of the origins of our ideas about race and religious self-definition, and of the roots of modern fanaticism.