May 17th, 2012
At 96, Historian Lewis Reflects On ‘A Century’
Bernard Lewis is also the author of the best-selling 'What Went Wrong?' Photo: Alan Kolc/NPR
Over his long academic career, Bernard Lewis has arguably become the world’s greatest historian of the Middle East. Now, at 96, Lewis turns his attention inward in a memoir that looks back on his life, work and legacy.
The linguist and scholar’s career began before World War II, and in a new memoir he covers more than a few sensitive areas, from race and slavery in Islam, to the clash of civilizations and his long argument with scholar Edward Said, to his role as an adviser to former Vice President Dick Cheney.
