Beyond Orientalism

This book is scheduled to be released February 2024 and is now available to pre-order.

“Beyond Orientalism: Sir William Jones (1746-1794), A Journey of Understanding” reconfigures our understanding of Orientalism, the formation of British Romanticism, colonialism, and late eighteenth-century British India. This volume examines the enduring legacy of Sir William Jones, a seminal figure in the intellectual exchange between East and West during the Enlightenment.

Through a rigorous analysis of Jones’s translations, annotations, and original compositions, the book elucidates his profound engagement with Persian and Sufi literature, his pivotal role in the founding of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and his endeavours to integrate Eastern mystical and philosophical traditions into Western thought. By investigating his contributions to legal reform in colonial India and his comparative studies of Oriental and Occidental mysticism, this work foregrounds Jones’s commitment to cultural pluralism and intellectual exchange. It situates him not merely as a scholar, but as a cultural mediator whose influence continues to shape contemporary discourse on cross-cultural understanding and the universal pursuit of knowledge and justice.

Hadi Baghaei-Abchooyeh is a specialist in English and Comparative Literature. With a PhD focused on colonial and comparative studies of British India, he has experience in interdisciplinary research, teaching, and supervision. His work fosters multicultural understanding, contributing significantly to literature of Romantic period and cross-cultural studies.