Product Description

Solomon Ibn Gabirol (1021-1058) of Spain was a Jewish philosopher and moralist who is perhaps best known for the beautiful forty-stanza poem Keter Malkhut (The Kingly Crown). Hailed by scholars as one of the most important classics of Hebrew literature, The Kingly Crown employs the metaphor of a king in his palace to describe the relationship between humanity and God. This medieval poem is full of vivid imagery and scriptural references. Within its many layers of meaning, readers will find not only an extended prayer and meditation, but also signs of the neoplatonic philosophy that formed the foundation of Gabirol's cosmology and theology. The University of Notre Dame Press is pleased to bring back in print Bernard Lewis's lyrical translation of The Kingly Crown. This new edition includes Lewis's extensive notes and introduction as well as a new introduction, notes, and detailed philosophical commentary by Andrew L. Gluck, Gluck's meticulous correction of errors in the Hebrew text makes this the most accurate version ever published with an English translation.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1620761 in Books
• Published on: 2002-11
• Original language: Hebrew
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 208 pages

Review
"The Kingly Crown, one of the gems of Sephardic liturgy for the High Holidays, is the jewel in the crown of Solomon ibn Gabirol's religious poetry. Bernard Lewis's elegant and lively translation reflects the poetic beauty and grandeur of the Hebrew original as does no other translation I know. Andrew Gluck combines Bernard Lewis's peerless translation with a meticulous scholarly edition of the Hebrew text, adding his own introduction and commentary. He offers a comprehensive survey of the medieval philosophical and mystical environment that constituted the backdrop of Ibn Gabirol's philosophy and religious poetry. This volume is a substantial contribution to the understanding and appreciation of The Kingly Crown." - Henry Toledano, Hofstra University

Language Notes
Text: English, Hebrew (translation)
Original Language: Hebrew

About the Author
Bernard Lewis is the Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He is the author of numerous books on Middle Eastern history. Andrew L. Gluck is a vocational and economic consultant in New York and a former member of the department of philosophy at Hofstra University.