Arabic Authors A Manual of Arabian History and Literature

"Arabic Authors" by F.F. Arbuthnot is a guide to Arabian history and the world of its literature, created in the late 1800s for students and general readers taking their first steps into Arabic studies. The book pulls together information from different places, giving an easy-to-understand look at important topics in Arabian history and literary works, especially spotlighting influential people and time periods. The book begins with a preface where the author shares their goals and points toward the interest in Middle Eastern studies in Europe during that time. The preface is clear that the work doesn’t have new ideas but highlights how helpful it is as a collection of information that can be used as a starting point for more research, expressing hope that a deeper study of Arabic literature will appear in English, while admiring the advances in Middle Eastern studies and the need to keep connections with historical and cutltural settings when understanding Arabian literature.