New Arabian Studies Volume 4

G. Rex Smith is retired and was previously Professor of Arabic, University of Manchester. B.R. Pridham is the former Director of the Centre for Arab Gulf Studies, University of Exeter. J.R. Smart is retired and was previously a lecturer in Arabic, University of Exeter.

"This volume, like its predecessors in this series, includes a variety of topics all relating to the Arabian Peninsula. We find articles on language and literature, dialect, geography, archaeology, history, architecture, agriculture, sociology, religion and documents. It also includes illustrations and reproduction of documents in facsimile form, where needed, to support the text. The journal's main aim is to make available to scholars with specializations in various aspects of Arabian new research findings, in addition to traditional themes treated separately or in joint anthologies and also to entice those living in or interested in Arabia to join researchers in making contributions of their own. . . It would be difficulty for this reviewer to generalize on the quality of articles in this volume of Arabian Studies. One can safely say that the authors are specialists in the fields they wrote about, either through training and basic research or through personal experience. Diversity in the topics enlisted reflects also the range of the journal's interests in research and publication on the Arabian peninsula. Generally, the authors have bequeathed the reader a wealth of first-hand data, regardless of the field of specialization, which scholars should find useful in carrying out their work. The editors, as usual, have done an excellent job in controlling the quality of transcription, even though more than one system was employed." (Journal of Semitic Studies Volume 44, Number 2, 1999) "The standard is high and the spread impressive . . . Anyone concerned with Arabia will find things of interest here . . . Though the journal avoids current politics, the contributions are also valuable in following new events." (Asian Affairs) "The contributions are consistent in their scholarly level and the editors deserve congratulation on their judicious choice of material for inclusion. A high standard has been set and one can but wish New Arabian Studies every success for the future." (Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies) “It is good that New Arabian Studies provides also a forum for the work of contemporary Arab scholars who have done research work in British universities before returning to posts within the Peninsula.” (Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 10, Part 1, April 2000)