On a number of occasions I have accepted a quest during negotiations. I am able to see the quests appear in the quest list but when I click on it, the information is so limited, so far I have not been able to undertake any of them. So presumably there must be some other more detailed report but which I have not so far been able to find?

I think the quest list is all there is, other than an big ! on the map showing you where you got the quest.

I have only had 'kill 6 dwarves' type quests, so have not needed any other information, though I admit that it is sometimes difficult to find the right type of monsters to kill.

What information do you want? Where to find those monsters? There is no such thing. Game doesn't generate site upon obtaining any quest, so it is possible to have impossible quests.

Campaign related quests sometimes have province name in them, though.

For dwarven alliance quest - you have 100% chance to find Lair in previously "Brigand outlaws" province. % of obtaining axe are not 100%.
For elven alliance - any magic tower will do.

Any magic tower will do, however you have to find the right magic tower. If you have, for example, 7 magic towers, elven maids can be in any of them.

To be a bit clearer here by "any Magic Tower will do" he means each one has a certain % to complete the quest for you. There is NOT one that will complete the quest for you no fail.

So for example you could keep doing 1 and reloading until you "win" the reward. This goes for the Dwarven Axe as well as the Elf Maidens. It also goes for other quests you can get like looking for the rock in a cave one.

Above info for Genesis not sure about MotBW

Thanks,
Think i figured out those quests are not for me.