Riedel Dagmar A. author Columbia University. Center for Iranian Studies Columbia University. Center for Iranian Studies originator text Reviews 2001 English Until the publication of this translation there had been no English translation available. The British Arabist R. B. Serjeant (1915-1993) began his enterprise of a Buha-Zä'-translation, because al-Gahiz' text provides for the non-Arab "an introduction to how an Arab conducts himself, the proprieties, table manners etc. The sort of food they eat and their delight in the Arabic language" (p. xxvi). Consequently, Serjeant decided to write an annotated translation for "a Western reader, unacquainted with Arabic" (ibid.). Islamic culture 78 1 207 209 2001 http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/islm.2001.78.1.164 http://hdl.handle.net/10022/AC:P:14541 NNC NNC 2012-08-28 15:55:40 -0400 2012-08-29 12:47:42 -0400 8562 eng