Following up on his publication of the Divans of Ennabiga, Antara, Tharafa, Zuhair, Alqama, and Imruulqais, Ahlwardt applied himself to the question of the authenticity of these six ancient poets. The works of the six have long been regarded as exemplars of early high achievement in Arabic poetry, and naturally works from this early period are open to questions of authenticity and claims of spuriousness. Ahlwardt begins this investigation with an overview of the question of authenticity of Arabic poetry in general before turning individual attention to each of the six in regard to this question. A brief consideration of the understanding of Arabic poetry, highlighting Ennabiga and Alqama, follows his analysis. A useful tool for the student of early Arabic poetry, Ahlwardt is now available in this affordable Analecta edition.

Wilhelm Theodor Ahlwardt (1828-1909) was born into an academic family. He studied oriental philology at Greifswald and Göttingen. Employed as a librarian in Gotha and Paris, he eventually became a Privatdozent at Greifswald University. He wrote several important works on Arabic poetry.