Far from being social, orthodox or merely anecdotal, modern Arabic fiction is in fact significant and radical in the world context of modern fiction, as this book shows. It includes an introduction to and critique of the short story as well as a selection of Arabic short stories, chosen and translated by the author.

Preface - Introduction - PART 1 A CRITICAL STUDY - The Situation of the Short Story - Sindbad: The Other Voyage - Shahrazad's Perspective - The Fallah's Long Journey - Conclusion - PART 2 A SELECTION OF TEXTS - The Death of Sindbad; M.Aflaq - Sindbad the Porter; N.Surur - Sindbad on his Eighth Voyage; K.Hawi - Abdullah Samsa in Waqwaq Island; M.al Masannawi - The Sindbad from the Old Sorrows: Five Tales from the Arabian Nights; M.al-Mansi Qindil - Spring in the Ashes; Z.Tamir - The Blue Charm and the Return of Jubaynah; E.Habiby - Abu-Zaid al-Ghazzi, the School Teacher; I.al-Alam - The Orphans' Cow; M.Shukair - Abu-Zaid Surrenders; S.Makkawi - Shatir Hassan and the Season of Drought; A.Haniyyah - The Beast; N.Khulusi - Vocabulary List - Bibliography - Index