The hero cycles of Arabic belong to the literary tradition of The Arabian Nights and can be seen as the popular epics of their civilisation. This first volume introduces the background to the cycles.

Preface; Introduction to volume one; Part I. Dimensions: Time and space; Racial groups; Social organisation, authority and the individual; Women, love and marriage; Background of beliefs; Part II. Narrative Settings: War; The sea; Common: uncommon; Part III. Structure; Part IV. Narrative Agents: Minor characters; Princes; Heroes; The monstrous regiment; The Man of Wiles; Villains; Conclusion; Select bibliography; Abbreviations used in indices; Index of names; Index of places.