'A masterly summational work, the whole story of the Arab peoples is laid out before us.It is difficult to overestimate the signal importance of this book for this time. Here at last is a genuinely readable, genuinely responsive history of the Arabs.' Edward Said, Independent on Sunday 'A brilliant book, perhaps a landmark. It radiates the penetrating light of Albert Hourani's massive erudition upon what he calls "the deeply disturbed societies" of the Arab world.' Thomas Lippman, Washington Post.