The present monograph would never have seen completion without the generous
and patient support of mentors, family, and friends. My heartfelt thanks go to all
who have provided me the space, the means, and the motivation to see this project
through. Professor Robert Wisnovsky has been a constant, kind, and unstinting
pillar of encouragement and support; and Professor Wael Hallaq has been an
unfl agging source of inspiration, strength, and bounteous good cheer. Both of
these friends and mentors deserve more gratitude than I can properly express. A
special word of thanks is owed to Professor Stephen Menn of McGill University
and Professor Joseph Lowry of the University of Pennsylvania for their sound
counsel and suggestions on numerous issues. It goes without saying that such
faults as persist in the following pages are a measure of my falling away from the
sound advice of all these benevolent teachers.