Nadia Jamil

Michael V. McDonald, who first introduced me, as an undergraduate, to the world of jāhilī poetry.

graduate advisor at Oxford, Julie Scott Meisami,

Stefan Sperl and Wilferd Madelung, who, years ago, examined the first stage of this project as a thesis,

Ronald Nettler – clandestine mentor of many - introduced me to Izutsu and the value of his methods, alongside those of a wealth of scholars with related theoretical interest

When I finally sat down to compose this book, he also read every portion as it came, suggesting all sorts of clarifications, holding the lamp at the end of my tunnel.

James E. Montgomery for the great kindness of reading through the entire first draft, and offering feedback that was so very considered and helpful to me in refining the shape.

hugely grateful to James for facilitating an approach to the Gibb Memorial Trust,

Geert Jan van Gelder, having also trekked the Empty Quarter of my initial draft, survived, and came back with so many indications for improvement, clarification and amendment, that to thank him adequately would play like a broken record.

Emilie Savage-Smith, Stephanie Dalley, and Julia Bray at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at Oxford

staff of the Oriental Institute and Bodleian libraries