A revised and expanded version of the 1976 edition, this scholarly study displays several hundred spectacular examples of an art form that is underappreciated in the West. Independent scholars living in Morocco, the authors begin by providing a conceptual and historical background to the meaning and origins of Islamic calligraphy. They then explicate the aesthetics, techniques, styles, and structure of the art. New chapters on the use of calligraphy in architecture and contemporary painting (featuring artists Hoosier Zenderoudi, Rashid Koraishi, and Shakir Hassan) enrich the coverage of the subject. The text, which contains information of unquestionable value, is marred only by the turgidly academic writing. Still, this is recommended for public libraries for its illustrations and highly recommended for academic libraries with an interest in the arts.?Eugene C. Burt, Art Inst. of Seattle Lib.