An Orientalist author’s authority derives from adaptability to the field

Evidence

Lane’s book on the Egyptians was influential, it was frequently read and cited (by Flaubert among others), and it established its author’s reputation as an eminent figure in Orientalist scholarship. In other words, Lane’s authority was gained, not by virtue simply of what he said, but by virtue of how what he said could be adapted to Orientalism. He is quoted as a source of knowledge about Egypt or Arabia, whereas Burton or Flaubert were and are read for what they tell us about Burton and Flaubert over and above their knowledge of the Orient. The author-function in Lane’s Modern Egyptians is less strong than in the other categories because his work was disseminated into the profession, consolidated by it, institutionalized with it. — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 405

Categorization

• XREF: The ‘author-function’ concept is Foucault’s, imported into Said’s framework — connects to the power/knowledge and discourse toolkit used throughout the Islamophobia readings.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — Edward W. Said, Orientalism, 405