The Institut français du Proche-Orient, Beirut, kindly provided me with a base in Lebanon for the 2013-14 academic year.Many others, in many ways, have helped me to complete this project. I should like in particular to thank my supervisor Mohamed-Salah Omri, who has overseen the project throughout; and Robin Ostle, who has offered invaluable advice at various stages. I would like to thank those who participated in the Oxford Nahda Workshop in May 2015, and especially my co-organisers,