Crusades

The Crusades Through Arab Eyes is a riveting short history of the invasion of the Arab states by the crusaders from 1096 to 1291. The author's polished narrative is supplemented by liberal quotations from primary sources, and combines an eye for telling detail with a broad understanding of the conflicts among the Arabs, the Turks, the Byzantine Greeks, the Mongols, and the European invaders, for "Franj," who come across as crude barbarians notable only for their military prowess. The one clear hero of the book is Salah al-Din, or Saladin, who combines military genius with with unusual compassion toward the people and cities he conquers, in contrast to the usual pillaging. In addition, however, the book is a rich source of information about other historical themes as the rise and fall of the cult of the Assassins and the rise of the Mamluk rulers of Egypt.