Albert Hourani
Encyclopedia
Albert Habib Hourani was a British-Lebanese historian, specializing in the Middle East
.
, England
, the son of Soumaya Rassi and Fadlo Issa Hourani, immigrants from Marjeyoun in what is now South Lebanon. His brothers were George Hourani
and Cecil Hourani. His family had converted from Greek Orthodoxy
to Scottish Presbyterianism
and his father was an elder of the local church in Manchester. Hourani himself, however, converted to Catholicism
in adulthood. One of his family members was here, Selina Issa Hourani.
Fadlo Hourani tried to enroll Albert into a local preparatory school in Manchester but it did not accept him as it did not take 'foreigners', he instead opened an alternative school in which Albert studied in until the age of fourteen. He later studied in London
before attending Magdalen College, Oxford
, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, Economics and History
(with an emphasis on international relations
in the politics section of the degree), graduating first in his class in 1936. During World War II
, he worked at the Royal Institute of International Affairs and in the office of the British Minister of State
in Cairo
. After the war's end, he worked at the Arab Office in Jerusalem and London, where he helped prepare the Arab case for the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry
.
He began his academic career, which would occupy the rest of his life, in 1948, teaching at Magdalen College
, St. Antony's College
(where he created and directed the college's Middle East Centre), the American University of Beirut
, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard. He ended his academic career as Fellow of St. Antony's College
and Reader in the History of the Modern Middle East at Oxford. Hourani trained more academic historians of the modern Middle East than any other university historian of his generation. Today his students can be found on the faculties of LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, MIT and the University of Haifa, among others.
Hourani's most popular work is A History of the Arab Peoples
(1991), a readable introduction to the history of the Middle East and an international best seller. Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age 1789-1939 (1962) is one of the first scientific attempts at a comprehensive analysis of the nahda, the Arab revival of the nineteenth century, and the opening of the Arab world to modern European culture, and remains one of the major works on this subject. Syria and Lebanon (1946) and Minorities in the Arab World (1947) are other major works. He also wrote extensive works on the orientalist
perspective on Middle Eastern cultures through the 18th and 19th centuries, and he developed the influential concept of the "urban notables" -- political and social elites in provincial Middle Eastern cities and towns that served as intermediaries between imperial capitals (such as Istanbul under the Ottoman Turks) and provincial society.
The top book prize in the Middle Eastern studies field is named the Albert Hourani Book Award
and it is given annually by the Middle East Studies Association of North America
(MESA). Hourani was an Honorary Fellow of both MESA and the American Historical Association (AHA).
Hourani married Christine Mary Odile Wegg-Prosser in 1955, while teaching at Magdalen College, Oxford. He died in Oxford at the age of 77. Mrs. Odile Hourani (b. 1914) died in 2003, shortly after the tenth anniversary of her husband's death. They are both buried at Wolvercote Cemetery in Oxford. Their daughter, Dr. Susanna Hourani, survives them. She is Professor of Pharmacology and Head of Department in the School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences of the University of Surrey
, UK.
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Life and career
Hourani was born in ManchesterManchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, the son of Soumaya Rassi and Fadlo Issa Hourani, immigrants from Marjeyoun in what is now South Lebanon. His brothers were George Hourani
George Hourani
George Fadlo Hourani was a British philosopher and classicist of Lebanese descent. He was the son of Fadlo Hourani, a Lebanese Christian shipping merchant, who was Lebanese counsel in Manchester...
and Cecil Hourani. His family had converted from Greek Orthodoxy
to Scottish Presbyterianism
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland, known informally by its Scots language name, the Kirk, is a Presbyterian church, decisively shaped by the Scottish Reformation....
and his father was an elder of the local church in Manchester. Hourani himself, however, converted to Catholicism
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in adulthood. One of his family members was here, Selina Issa Hourani.
Fadlo Hourani tried to enroll Albert into a local preparatory school in Manchester but it did not accept him as it did not take 'foreigners', he instead opened an alternative school in which Albert studied in until the age of fourteen. He later studied in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
before attending Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, where he studied Philosophy, Politics, Economics and History
Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
Philosophy, politics, and economics is a popular interdisciplinary undergraduate/graduate degree which combines study from the three disciplines...
(with an emphasis on international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
in the politics section of the degree), graduating first in his class in 1936. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he worked at the Royal Institute of International Affairs and in the office of the British Minister of State
Minister of State
Minister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. After the war's end, he worked at the Arab Office in Jerusalem and London, where he helped prepare the Arab case for the Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry
Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry
The Anglo-American Committee of Inquiry was a joint British and American attempt in 1946 to agree upon a policy as regards the admission of Jews to Palestine. The Committee was tasked to consult representative Arabs and Jews on the problems of Palestine, and to make other recommendations 'as may be...
.
He began his academic career, which would occupy the rest of his life, in 1948, teaching at Magdalen College
Magdalen College, Oxford
Magdalen College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2006 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £153 million. Magdalen is currently top of the Norrington Table after over half of its 2010 finalists received first-class degrees, a record...
, St. Antony's College
St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.St Antony's is the most international of the seven all-graduate colleges of the University of Oxford, specialising in international relations, economics, politics, and history of particular parts of the...
(where he created and directed the college's Middle East Centre), the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
, the University of Chicago, the University of Pennsylvania, and Harvard. He ended his academic career as Fellow of St. Antony's College
St Antony's College, Oxford
St Antony's College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England.St Antony's is the most international of the seven all-graduate colleges of the University of Oxford, specialising in international relations, economics, politics, and history of particular parts of the...
and Reader in the History of the Modern Middle East at Oxford. Hourani trained more academic historians of the modern Middle East than any other university historian of his generation. Today his students can be found on the faculties of LSE, Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Yale, University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, MIT and the University of Haifa, among others.
Hourani's most popular work is A History of the Arab Peoples
History of the Arab Peoples
A History of the Arab Peoples is a book written by the British-born Lebanese historian Albert Hourani.The book presents the history of the Arabs from the advent of Islam to the late 20th Century...
(1991), a readable introduction to the history of the Middle East and an international best seller. Arabic Thought in the Liberal Age 1789-1939 (1962) is one of the first scientific attempts at a comprehensive analysis of the nahda, the Arab revival of the nineteenth century, and the opening of the Arab world to modern European culture, and remains one of the major works on this subject. Syria and Lebanon (1946) and Minorities in the Arab World (1947) are other major works. He also wrote extensive works on the orientalist
Orientalism
Orientalism is a term used for the imitation or depiction of aspects of Eastern cultures in the West by writers, designers and artists, as well as having other meanings...
perspective on Middle Eastern cultures through the 18th and 19th centuries, and he developed the influential concept of the "urban notables" -- political and social elites in provincial Middle Eastern cities and towns that served as intermediaries between imperial capitals (such as Istanbul under the Ottoman Turks) and provincial society.
The top book prize in the Middle Eastern studies field is named the Albert Hourani Book Award
Albert Hourani Book Award
The Albert Hourani Book Award is a non-fiction book award given by the Middle East Studies Association to the year's most notable book in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies. On occasion the award has been shared by two authors. Named after the scholar Albert Hourani, the award was first given in...
and it is given annually by the Middle East Studies Association of North America
Middle East Studies Association of North America
Middle East Studies Association of North America is a learned society, and according to its website, "a non-political association that fosters the study of the Middle East, promotes high standards of scholarship and teaching, and encourages public understanding of the region and its peoples...
(MESA). Hourani was an Honorary Fellow of both MESA and the American Historical Association (AHA).
Hourani married Christine Mary Odile Wegg-Prosser in 1955, while teaching at Magdalen College, Oxford. He died in Oxford at the age of 77. Mrs. Odile Hourani (b. 1914) died in 2003, shortly after the tenth anniversary of her husband's death. They are both buried at Wolvercote Cemetery in Oxford. Their daughter, Dr. Susanna Hourani, survives them. She is Professor of Pharmacology and Head of Department in the School of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences of the University of Surrey
University of Surrey
The University of Surrey is a university located within the county town of Guildford, Surrey in the South East of England. It received its charter on 9 September 1966, and was previously situated near Battersea Park in south-west London. The institution was known as Battersea College of Technology...
, UK.
External links
- Albert Hourani: Islam, Christianity and Orientalism an assessment of Albert Hourani which was published in the 2003 edition of the St Antony's College Record
- Albert Hourani (1915-93) an obituary published in the Bulletin of the Middle East Studies Association
- Abdulaziz A. Al-Sudairi, A Vision of the Middle East: An Intellectual Biography of Albert Hourani, London, I.B. Tauris.