Bassam Frangieh clearly has a passion for Arabic literature. The work he put into this compilation is evidenced in his thorough footnotes, explanations, and most importantly his selection of texts. Having approached this textbook as a third year Arabic student, I was shocked by the accessibility of the texts. Everyone had always told me it takes six years before a student can thoroughly understand Arabic literature. I see the logic behind that - even the most accomplished Arabic scholars debate the meanings of some works in context, similar to Shakespeare - but as long as you grasp the fundamentals of Arabic grammar and have your Hans Weir close at hand, these selections will astonish you. I highly recommend this book even to intermediate Arabic scholars. It will bring you several steps closer to a nuanced appreciation of Arab culture and society.