ALiteraryHistoryoftheArabs

TheArabsduringathousandyearsormoreproducedoneoftherichestandmostextensiveliteraturesoftheworld,embracingfinepoetry(ofthefiercedesertlifeequallywiththesophisticationofroyalcourts),belleslettres(learnedessays,satires,dearteamoris),religious,mysticalandphilosophicalwritings,andhugecompendiaofhistory,biographyandgeography.Forsixtyyears,thebestaccountinEnglishofthisvastoutputhasbeen,byuniversalconsent,R.A.Nicholson'sLiteraryHistoryoftheArabs;itssupremacywilllongremainunchallenged.Thatitisabookfulloferuditionandhighcriticaljudgementgoeswithoutsaying;itsauthorisalsoapoet-translatorofrareexcellence.