Arberry, A. J. (Arthur John), 1905-1969

Arthur John Arberry (1905-1969), orientalist, was born at Buckland, Portsmouth, on 12 May 1905. He attended Portsmouth Grammar School, and entered Pembroke College, Cambridge, in 1924, where he studied classics and oriental languages. He was head of the Classics Department, Cairo University, 1932-1934, and assistant librarian, India Office, London, 1934-1939. He worked in the Ministry of Information, 1939-1944, and thereafter became Professor of Persian (1944) and of Arabic (1946) at London University. In 1947 he was appointed Professor of Arabic at Cambridge University. Arberry published over sixty works, as well as a translation of the Koran (1935). He died in Cambridge on 2 October 1969.

From the guide to the Arthur Arberry: Correspondence and papers, 20th century, (Cambridge University Library, Department of Manuscripts and University Archives)

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