The aspiration for ecumenical rapprochement between Sunnis and Shiites after 1,300 of schism and antagonism began only at the end of the 19th century as part of the general pan-Islamic tendencies that were also germinating then. Brunner (Islamic studies, U. of Freiburg) describes the origin of that debate and traces its course through the 20th century. His discussion pivots on the changing relationship between Cairo's Azhar University, the most important center of Sunni scholarship, and the Shiite clergy. The German original of his study, Annäherung und Distanz. Schia, Azhar und die islamische Ökumene im 20. Jahrhundert was published in 1996 by Klaus Schwarz Verlag, Berlin. It has been translated by Joe Greenman. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)