Isabel Toral and Beatrice Gruendler dive into the rich history of 'Kalīla and Dimna,' exploring its evolution from Sanskrit to Arabic and beyond. Gruendler, a Professor of Arabic, and Toral, a cultural historian, discuss how the text has shaped Arabic literature and its adaptations across cultures. They highlight the role of digital tools in analyzing manuscript variations, emphasizing the concept of 'mouvance' and the creative agency of copyists. The conversation reveals the challenges of introducing these literary classics in academic discourse and the collaborative efforts to document and preserve this literary heritage.
