Orientalism

Summary Of The Book
Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient delves into the attitudes of the West towards the Eastern culture, through the course of history. Through the course of this book, Said explains that Orientalism is used to explain the subtle, yet persistent prejudice against individuals of Arab-Islamic origin. The central theme of this book is that a general notion of the East often spurs as a result of preconceived notions by the West, not based on facts. He goes on to explain that the West view all societies in the East the same, hence, regarding them different from Western societies.

Said also discusses power and knowledge in the context of scholarly and popular thinking, throwing light on the European outlook of the Islamic Arab world. There are three chapters in this book, and they include The Scope of Orientalism, Orientalist Structures and Restructures, and Orientalism Now. In the first chapter, he explains a number of definitions to explain what Orientalism means. Said also utilizes the literary works of Western figures such as Shakespeare, Byron, Henry Kissinger, Dante, Napoleon, Chaucer, and Arthur James Balfour, who regarded the East as inferior. The second chapter tells the readers about the spread of the Orientalist discourse from one country to another, and then to authors.

He explains that scholars such as Edward William Lane drafted an entire book on the life of Egyptians, after spending just two-three years in their society. This book was then circulated greatly in Europe, which spread their ideas of Orientalism throughout that region and beyond. In the third chapter, Said examines the present-day mindset of Orientalism worldwide. Orientalism: Western Conceptions of the Orient has had a tremendous intellectual influence on human geography, Oriental studies, and literary theory and cultural studies. This book is highly recommended for those who have a liking for history and the power of ideas.

About Edward Said
Edward Said was an author, literary theorist, educator, and public intellectual.
Said has also written Covering Islam: How The Media And The Experts Determine How We See The Rest Of The World, After The Last Sky: Palestinian Lives, and Nationalism, Colonialism, and Literature: Yeats and Decolonization.

Said was born on 1st November, 1935, in Palestine. He completed his schooling from the Anglican St. George’s School, Jerusalem, Victoria College, and the Northfield Mount Hermon School, Massachusetts. He then went on to pursue his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, followed by a master’s and doctoral degree in English, both from Harvard University. Said was presented with the Lannan Literary Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2001. He had also worked at Columbia University, holding the position of the Professor of English and Comparative Literature. He passed away on 25th September, 2003.