Table of Contents

Preface; Note on translation, transliteration and further reading; Chronology; 1. An essay on precedents and principles; 2. The contexts of the literary tradition; 3. The Qur'an: sacred text and cultural yardstick; 4. Poetry; 5. Belletristic prose and narrative; 6. Drama; 7. The critical tradition; Guide to further reading; Index.

Promotional Information

An accessible introduction to Arabic literature from the fifth century to the present.

Reviews

'In scope, documentation, analysis and argument, Roger Allen's book is a welcome contribution, a masterpiece that deserves the best of scholarly appreciation and the right presence among texts in the field. It is a book that should appear on every reading list for courses and seminars in Arabic studies.' Journal of Arabic Literature 'There are few Arabists whose writings give the impression that they feel thoroughly at home in both classical and modern Arabic literature, and Professor Roger Allen is certainly one of them.' Journal of Islamic Studies