The Book of Saladin: A Novel

Rating:
Summary: ALLAH O AKKBAR !
Review: What and interesting novel! ..This is a story of the magnificent Kurdish - Muslim sultan Salah al Din , his gradual rising to power and his conquest of Al - Kadisiya (Jerusalem) from the Crusades in 1187.The novel tracks Salah al Din's youth, his maturation as a charizmatic and awe- inspiring leader ,and finaly his ability to organize the numerous muslim parties under his rule to expell Crusades and return the holy city to Muslims and Jews. The story is told by a Jew in Salah al Din's service.A typical scribe, he talks little , carefully listens and observes. Among other colourful personalities is the rebellious sultana Jamila.Extremely intelligent, and educated, unlike all the rest of the women in Salah al Din's harem, she dares to question the traditions of the Kur'an, and the position of women in muslim society. Throughout the novel there is the sweet reasonable harmony between the Jews and Muslims, which today is unfortunatly not the persise case.The novel particularly accentuates the sadness and tragedy of Muslims' constant quarrels among themselves on the cultural and religious grounds,and their difficulty in uniting when the need arises.Salah al Din is greatly praised by the Muslims for his princely and military virtues, and in the novel he is an impressive character you will never forget.Two thumbs up, Tariq Ali ! .. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS NOVEL TO EVERYONE, ESPECIALLY THOSE INTERESTED IN THE HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST !