This introduction to modern Arabic literature, from the beginning of the 19th century to the beginning of the 21st, develops themes including: the interaction of the classical Arabic literary tradition (and, to a lesser extent, the parallel oral tradition) with new literary forms derived from the West; the interaction between social, political and cultural change in the Middle East and the development of a modern Arabic literary tradition; and the extent to which we are justified in speaking of modern Arabic literature rather than, for example, Egyptian , Lebanese , or Tunisian literature. Covering poetry, prose literature and drama, this book should be ideal for all those requiring an introduction to the subject of Arabic literature.