The final volume of the series explores the Arabic literary heritage of the little-known period from the twelfth to the beginning of the nineteenth century. Even though it was during this time that the famous Thousand One Nights, was composed, very little has been written on the literature of the period generally and Roger Allen and Donald Richards bring together some of the most distinguished scholars in the field. The volume is divided into parts with the traditions of poetry and prose covered separately within both their 'elite' and 'popular' contexts. The last two sections are devoted to drama and the indigenous tradition of literary criticism.