Introducing readers to the extremely rich tradition of Arabic literature‎,‎ this Anthology covers some of its major themes and concerns across the centuries‎,‎ from its early beginnings to modern times‎.‎ The texts chosen are a ‎'‎library of personal preferences‎'‎ of a scholar who has spent half a century or more in the company of Arabic books‎,‎ marking then translating those passages that seemed to him to capture some of its most memorable moments‎.‎ Reflecting the great diversity and unpredictability of Arabic literature as the carrier of a major world culture‎,‎ both pre‎-modern and modern‎,‎ the Anthology is divided thematically to highlight modern issues such as love‎,‎ religion‎,‎ the human self‎,‎ human rights‎,‎ freedom of expression‎,‎ the environment‎,‎ violence‎,‎ secular thought‎,‎ and feminism‎.‎ The short‎,‎ easy‎-to‎-read texts are accessible to non‎-specialists‎,‎ providing an ideal entry point to this extraordinary literature‎.‎