Review of Literature

They sure don't write reviews of literature like they used to. This is from the Wadie Jwaideh translation of the opening of Yaqut's Mu'jam al-Buldan, in which he explains the need a for a comprehensive geographical reference book:

"Copies of the book journeyed far and wide, like the journeying of the sun after sunrise. No daring quibbler or recriminating assailant ventured to reproach him regarding anything contained therein, and no one entertained the idea of undoing the well-knit strands of his meanings, until he mentioned the names of places upon which Abu Muhammad had built his Maqamat. Thereupon the thread of his pearl necklace was snapped, the edifice which his beneficence had raised collapsed, his blooming garden dried up, his erstwhile munificence was dissipated, the cavalcade of his virtues lagged, and the perfect body of his work lay prostrate. He became in turns delirious and confused, and began to stumble and grope in the darkness of ignorance."

Specific examples followed.