Alexander Bevilacqua's seminal work, 'Arabic Letters: Islam and Muslims in the European Enlightenment,' offers a groundbreaking exploration of how European scholars and intellectuals engaged with Islamic culture and thought during the 18th century. Bevilacqua meticulously examines a vast array of Arabic manuscripts, translations, and scholarly correspondence, revealing the complex and often surprising ways in which European Enlightenment thinkers encountered and interpreted Islamic civilization. Far from a monolithic view, the book uncovers a nuanced spectrum of perspectives, from admiration for Islamic science and philosophy to debates over religious tolerance and political models. It challenges conventional narratives by demonstrating the significant, albeit often overlooked, role that Arabic sources played in shaping European intellectual discourse on religion, history, and empire. This essential study sheds light on the reciprocal intellectual exchanges that transcended geographical and cultural boundaries, fundamentally redefining our understanding of Enlightenment Europe's relationship with the Islamic world.