Narratives of the Islamic Conquest from Medieval Spain

Exploring medieval literary representations of the Islamic conquest of Spain in 711, Hazbun discusses chronicles, epic and clerical poetry, and early historical novels. While material on the conquest of Spain is substantial, it is understudied and this book works to fill that gap.

Selected by Choice magazine as an "Outstanding Academic Title" for 2016

“Hazbun’s writing style is fluid and eloquent, her observations engaging and persuasive, not only broaching the literary and historical significance of the texts in question but also exploring some of the key theoretical principles that underpin questions of cultural identity, power, and legacy alongside their expression in medieval narrative.” (Şizen Yiacoup, Modern Language Review, Vol. 113 (04), October, 2018)

“The study is likewise about the underlying sources, perceptions, rhetoric, and, one might add, philosophy of history. … This is a fascinating and remarkably nuanced analysis. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above.” (E. H. Friedman, Choice, Vol. 53 (9), May, 2016)

"In this creative and refreshingly original study of prominent medieval narratives of the Islamic conquest of Spain, Geraldine Hazbun finds these texts to be less strictly about victor or vanquished, enemy or ally, and more reflective of a binary conception of the world they inhabit, a flux of sorts between oblivion and renown, cowardice and heroism, sacrifice and reward. By studying these texts together, Hazbun elicits cultural sophistication and nuance where previously we saw authorial single-mindedness and certitude." - Matthew Bailey, Professor of Spanish, Washington and Lee University, USA

"Geraldine Hazbun makes a significant and much-needed contribution to medieval Spanish literary studies. Her work challenges already published research on Spanish conquest narratives in this area in terms of its tendencies to adhere to Orientalist paradigms and to present an excessively polarized and generalized perspective on Christian-Muslim relations. No previous research brings the texts discussed together in one book, nor views them as a corpus, foregrounding their novelty and inclusivity." - Elizabeth Drayson, Senior College Lecturer in Spanish, Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge, UK

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Geraldine Hazbun is Associate Professor of Medieval Spanish Literature, St Anne s College at Oxford University, UK.