This special issue marks the centenary of The Sheik, looking back at its release and taking stock of its continuing, and sometimes problematic, legacy for popular romance. It is designed to showcase existing research and expertise on The Sheik while also introducing new scholarly perspectives. It gathers researchers, authors, teachers and students of The Sheik and sheikh romance to offer new, original research as well as reflections on the novel and sheikh romance genre and a review of existing scholarship.