The stories collected here are by leading authors of the short story form in the Middle East today. In addition to works by writers already wellknown in the West, such as Idwar al-Kharrat, Fu'ad al-Takarli and Nobel Prize winner Naguib Mahfouz, the collection includes stories by key authors whose fame has hitherto been restricted to the Middle East. This bilingual reader is ideal for students of Arabic as well as lovers of literature who wish to broaden their appreciation of the work of Middle Eastern writers. The collection features stories in the original Arabic, accompanied by an English translation and a brief author biography, as well as a discussion of context and background. Each story is followed by a glossary and discussion of problematic language points.

Ronak Husni is Head of Arabic and Translation Studies and Professor of Arabic Studies at the American University of Sharjah, UAE. Daniel L. Newman is Course Director of the MA in Arabic/English Translation at the University of Durham. He has also published An Imam in Paris (Saqi).

Contents: Introduction 7 Note on Transliteration 11 Abbreviations 12 'Izz al-DDn al-MadanD 13 The Tale of the Lamp 15 ZakariyyA TAmir 41 A Lonely Woman 43 MuIammad al-ZafzAf 56 The Sacred Tree 58 IbrAhDm al-FaqDh 70 Excerpt from The Book of The Dead 72 NajDb MaIfUU 104 Qismati and Nasibi 107 IanAn al-Shaykh 144 Yasmine's Picture 147 MuIammad ShukrD 162 The Night and the Sea 164 IdwAr al-KharrAO 178 At the Theatre 180 SalwA Bakr 198 Ancestral Hair 200 Fu'Ad al-TakarlD 220 A Hidden Treasure 222 LaylA al-'UthmAn 247 Night of Torment 248 YUsuf IdrDs 265 A Tray from Heaven 267 Bibliography 295