This collection of essays was put together to honour a lifetime's academic achievement by Professor G. Rex Smith, arabist, historian and scholar of the medieval history of the Yemen. Written by his friends, colleagues and former students, these essays reflect his wide ranging interests in the history and culture of Arabia from the pre-Islamic era until modern times. Focusing principally on the region covered by present-day Saudi Arabia and the Yemen, the topics include epigraphy, philology, architecture, anthropology, customary law, and aspects of the history of medieval Yemen. Together these essays offer an insight into the many important aspects of research being undertaken into the rich and fascinating culture of this region.