The Book of Animals

Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr al-Jahiz lived in Basra and Baghdad and died around 869. The Book of Animals is one of his largest works.

His style

Al-Jahiz does not write a dry scientific treatise. He digresses from describing animals into poetry, stories and theological debate, so the book becomes a portrait of the whole culture of his time.

Why read it today

It shows Arabic prose at its liveliest, and it includes early observations on animal behaviour and the influence of environment.