A History of The Encyclopaedia of Islam is the back story of the decisions that shaped the pre-eminent reference work in the field of Islamic Studies and of the labour that went into it, a story that has not yet been told. It is a record of a monumental, century-long project, undertaken by the greatest scholars of its time; of friendships and rivalries; and of the extraordinary circumstances in which it took shape. As a product of and a contribution to a century's evolving view of Islamic history, civilization, and religion, this history sheds light onto the world of academia, of the individual scholars who contributed to the encyclopedia's success, and of a time-Europe before and after two world wars-and an age of publishing that dramatically changed in its lifetime.