From 1980 until his death in 1994, the late Dr. Bidwell, almost to the exclusion of all other academic activity, laboured to produce this encyclopaedic work which represents, in the true sense of the word, a unique account of the Arab World from 1798 to the present day in a readily accessible and accurate form. This combination of scrupulous scholarship and first-hand experience makes this work indispensable to students of the Arab World, journalists, diplomats, governments, businessmen, strategic studies and political science specialists and any private individual who has an interest in or is associated in any way with the Arab World.