From the talk of poetry and prose - Taha Hussein

Taha Hussein had what could be considered his own cultural project, in which he sought to critically study the arts of ancient Arabic literature on solid scientific foundations, free from all preconceived biases, and characterized by its audacity in criticizing established norms. This led to many problems and clashes between him and political, religious, and academic institutions; he was accused of heresy and ignorance multiple times, and was dismissed from his university position, yet his scientific determination to reach the truth never wavered. The book you hold compiles a series of lectures the author delivered to the public about the arts of Arabic prose and poetry before and after the advent of Islam, the development they underwent, their relationship to each other, and their relationship to other literatures. It also traces the stages of the emergence of prose and its independence from poetry, and highlights prominent figures who excelled in this art, which never achieved the same dominance as ancient Arabic poetry.