The Conversation with the Man Called Al-Mu'tasim
Encyclopedia
The Conversation with the Man Called Al-Mu'tasim: A Game of Shifting Mirrors is a non-existent novel
supposedly by an India
n writer
named Mir Bahadur Ali
, referenced in the story The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim by Jorge Luis Borges
(title in Spanish
: El acercamiento a Almotásim). Borges's short story takes the form of a commentary on the fictional work, describing Conversation as a rewriting of the earlier book
The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim. Borges states in the story that though both books have been popular, the first had an original printing of 4,000 copies and was never reprinted, while the second has often been criticized for poor writing and for its obvious allegory
to the quest of finding God
. He further states that The Conversation with the Man called Al-Mu'tasim was published in 1934, the second book is by far the better known, having been reprinted several times and translated into English
, French
, and German
. Such minute details have led many readers of the Borges story to assume that the book he is "reviewing" is real, when no such book actually exists.
The original Borges story appears in his anthology Ficciones
or in Historia de la eternidad.
The imaginary work is essentially a detective story
about a law student in Bombay. After unexpectedly committing a murder
, he becomes an outcast among the lower classes of India. Through his dealings with people he infers the existence of a perfect man, whom he calls Al-Mu'tasim. He believes Al-Mu'tasim has affected others in particular ways through interaction, as though some perfection was "rubbed off" onto them. The student becomes obsessed with finding and meeting Al-Mu'tasim.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
supposedly by an India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
named Mir Bahadur Ali
Mir Bahadur Ali
The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim is a fantasy short story written in 1935 by Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges...
, referenced in the story The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim by Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Luis Borges
Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo , known as Jorge Luis Borges , was an Argentine writer, essayist, poet and translator born in Buenos Aires. In 1914 his family moved to Switzerland where he attended school, receiving his baccalauréat from the Collège de Genève in 1918. The family...
(title in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: El acercamiento a Almotásim). Borges's short story takes the form of a commentary on the fictional work, describing Conversation as a rewriting of the earlier book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
The Approach to Al-Mu'tasim. Borges states in the story that though both books have been popular, the first had an original printing of 4,000 copies and was never reprinted, while the second has often been criticized for poor writing and for its obvious allegory
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
to the quest of finding God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
. He further states that The Conversation with the Man called Al-Mu'tasim was published in 1934, the second book is by far the better known, having been reprinted several times and translated into English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
, and German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
. Such minute details have led many readers of the Borges story to assume that the book he is "reviewing" is real, when no such book actually exists.
The original Borges story appears in his anthology Ficciones
Ficciones
Ficciones is the most popular anthology of short stories by Argentine writer and poet Jorge Luis Borges, often considered the best introduction to his work. Ficciones should not be confused with Labyrinths, although they have much in common. Labyrinths is a separate translation of Borges' material,...
or in Historia de la eternidad.
The imaginary work is essentially a detective story
Detective Story
Detective Story is a film noir which tells the story of one day in the lives of the various people who populate a police detective squad. It features Kirk Douglas, Eleanor Parker, William Bendix, Cathy O'Donnell, Lee Grant, among others. The movie was adapted by Robert Wyler and Philip Yordan...
about a law student in Bombay. After unexpectedly committing a murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, he becomes an outcast among the lower classes of India. Through his dealings with people he infers the existence of a perfect man, whom he calls Al-Mu'tasim. He believes Al-Mu'tasim has affected others in particular ways through interaction, as though some perfection was "rubbed off" onto them. The student becomes obsessed with finding and meeting Al-Mu'tasim.