القيم الأخلاقية في الرواية التاريخية موازنة بين جرجي زيدان ونجيب الكيلاني

Moral Values in Historical Novels A Comparison Between Jurji Zaidan and Najib Al-Kilani

Abstract

The historical novel holds a significant position in modern literature due to its profound impact on the reader. A reader well-versed in historical events can appreciate the authenticity of the narratives by comparing them to the history books they have consulted. Conversely, a reader unfamiliar with historical occurrences, such as a young or emerging reader, has not yet thoroughly engaged with history and its events. Therefore, much of what they learn about history comes from these historical stories that introduce them to the subject in an engaging and captivating manner, drawing them in with various events and characters that represent the moral values of that period.

The researcher, due to his current work on his doctoral dissertation, discovered various topics worthy of study and investigation in the historical novels of Jurji Zaidan. He recognized, as have other writers and researchers, Zaidan's bias against Islamic history and his efforts to distort this history and its events. This stands in contrast to another writer who possesses a clear Islamic character in his literature, Dr. Najib Al-Kilani. As a result, the researcher decided to find a balance between their two styles by selecting a novel from each author and attempting to extract the moral values emphasized by both in order to arrive at as fair a conclusion as possible.