1. Guides
  2. Arabic literature

Arabic literature

General * Bibliographical/Biographical Sources

 Brockelmann in English: The History of the Arabic Written Tradition Online This online publication is the English translation of Brockelmann's famous Geschichte der Arabischen Litteratur (GAL). Brockelmann's work offers bio-bibliographic information about works written in Arabic and their authors, with an emphasis on the classical period. It is divided in chronologically organized sections, which are subdivided by literary genre. Individual entries typically consist of a biographical section and a list of the author’s works in manuscript and print, with references to secondary literature. Unlike the German original, the English translation spells out all the authors' names, which makes the translation much easier to consult. Minor errors in converted dates have also been corrected. The “Brockelmann” is an indispensable research tool for anyone working on the Islamic world and the Middle East.

The Oxford Handbook of Arab Novelistic Traditions is the most comprehensive treatment of the subject to date. In scope, the book encompasses the genesis of the Arabic novel in the second half of the nineteenth century and its development to the present in every Arabic-speaking country and in Arab immigrant destinations on six continents. The novelistic phenomenon described here has pre-modern roots, stretching centuries back within the Arabic cultural tradition, and branching outward geographically and linguistically to every Arab country and to Arab writing in many languages around the world.

Classical Sources

  • الأغاني Kitāb al-aghānī taʼlīf Abī al-Faraj al-Iṣfahānī.[PDF]
  • The Arabian Nights (uncensored version, 1850) / by Sir Richard F. Burton
  • Arabian Nights Bibliography [ONLINE] compiled by Ulrich Marzolph.
    "The present Bibliography aims to list a representative selection of research publications on the Arabian Nights (Alf Laylah wa-laylah, Les Mille et une Nuits, Tausendundeine Nacht etc.) published in European languages, while also including some important books and articles published in other languages. Initially being based on the bibliography in The Arabian Nights Encyclopedia (Marzolph and van Leeuwen 2004, 811–852), the present Bibliography bears witness to the renewed and continued interest in the Nights resulting from its tercentenary celebrations in 2004. Aiming to be comprehensive, but not necessarily exhaustive, the Bibliography at present lists more than 500 items. It is conceived as an ongoing project and will be updated at regular intervals. Most items quoted treat particular aspects of the Arabian Nights, with the exception of items discussing the scholars to whose endeavours we owe the most important European editions. Numerous publications bearing a secondary relevance for the study of the Nights have not been included. Also, editions of the Nights in international languages are not listed, while a number of them contain important essays on the history and character of the Nights. The compiler appreciates comments and critique as well as suggestions for items to be added. As a further service to the scholarly community, we offer to supply scans of the items listed below, most of which are available here. In the future, we aim to link pdf-scans to specific items that are out of copyright."
  • Travels of Ibn Batuta in Asia and Africa
  • Secondary Works which Address Ibn `Asakir's Ta'rikh Madinat Dimashq
  • Ibn Khaldûn on the Web
  • Ibn Khaldun's Muqaddimah [Download full Arabic text .doc]

Arabic Poetry

General

Classic

(Jahiliyah [Pre-Islamic Arabia] & Early Islam)

Antara---Antara & Ablah--- Ablah

Modern

Fiction & other Lit. Genres

Other

Guides