Al-Jahiz (AH 160/AD 776 - AH 225/AD 869) was one of the greatest exponents of Arabic Prose of all time. His scholarship and breadth of interest, and his ability to express his ideas and arguments with vigor and humor were outstanding; The Book of Misers is his comical masterpiece, and one of the earliest works of fiction from the Islamic world. This work will appeal to the modern reader for its comical power which remains undiminished 1,100 years after it was written. This translation by the late Prof. Serjeant makes this work available to the English speaking world for the first time.