Mamluk Historiography Revisited - Narratological Perspectives - Stephan Conermann

This volume discusses Mamluk historical texts, placing emphasis on literary and stylistic analysis, whilst essentially disregarding issues of 'factuality' versus 'fiction'. It was never the authors' intention to write fiction, nor would their audiences have perceived their narratives as such. The events depicted were a matter of historical record, with significance in both contemporary and general terms, although audiences were already aware of the outcomes of these events. Effectively recounting such events makes up a large part of a historian's task. There is heavy reliance on the historian's choice of style, which is paramount to conveying a particular meaning. Had these narratives not been considered true, the meaning and purpose behind them would arguably have been lost. Had they not been told in the most effective way possible, their meaning might not have been clearly grasped.