Coat of many cultures

The biblical (and qur'anic) story of Joseph was an important element of the cultural heritage shared by Jews, Muslims and Christians in medieval Spain. The great themes that legend embodies - sibling rivalry resulting in betrayal, revenge, and ultimate reconciliation; the triumph of honor and chastity over sexual temptation; and the Cinderella-like rise of a member of a despised minority to a position of almost unimaginable power and influence - led all three groups to cherish the story. The story of Joseph offers us a unique opportunity to examine the interactions of Jews, Muslims, and Christians in medieval Renaissance Spain. Each of these ethnic and religious groups developed new interpretations of the story dictated by the historical circumstances of a particular time and place, yet each was influenced by the versions created by the others. McGaha's book presents seven works based on the biblical story. Only two have been previously translated into English. All of these works are unmistakably Spanish, though many of them are also undeniably Jewish or Muslim. They are not just antiquarian curiosities, but are truly admirable literary texts.