By Adil Hussain on 2 March 2017 
Pdf
Saladin: The Life, the Legend and the Islamic Empire
Saladin remains one of the most iconic figures of his age. As the manwho united the Arabs and saved Islam from Christian crusaders in the12th century, he is the Islamic world’s preeminent hero. Ruthless indefence of his faith, brilliant in leadership, he also possessedqualities that won admiration from his Christian foes. He knew thelimits of violence, showing such tolerance and generosity that manyEuropeans, appalled at the brutality of their own people, saw him as theexemplar of their own knightly ideals.
But Saladin is farmore than a historical hero. Builder, literary patron and theologian, heis a man for all times, and a symbol of hope for an Arab world onceagain divided. Centuries after his death, in cities from Damascus toCairo and beyond, to the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf, Saladincontinues to be an immensely potent symbol of religious and militaryresistance to the West. He is central to Arab memories, sensibilitiesand the ideal of a unified Islamic state.
In this authoritativebiography, historian John Man brings Saladin and his world to life invivid detail. Charting his rise to power, his struggle to unify thewarring factions of his faith, and his battles to retake Jerusalem andexpel Christian influence from Arab lands, Saladin explores the life and the enduring legacy of this champion of Islam, and examines his significance for the world today.
But Saladin is farmore than a historical hero. Builder, literary patron and theologian, heis a man for all times, and a symbol of hope for an Arab world onceagain divided. Centuries after his death, in cities from Damascus toCairo and beyond, to the Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf, Saladincontinues to be an immensely potent symbol of religious and militaryresistance to the West. He is central to Arab memories, sensibilitiesand the ideal of a unified Islamic state.
In this authoritativebiography, historian John Man brings Saladin and his world to life invivid detail. Charting his rise to power, his struggle to unify thewarring factions of his faith, and his battles to retake Jerusalem andexpel Christian influence from Arab lands, Saladin explores the life and the enduring legacy of this champion of Islam, and examines his significance for the world today.
"Fast-paced ... thrilling." (Ben Wilson The Times)"One could not wish for a better storyteller or analyst than John Man." (Simon Sebag Montefiore)"His ability to put us in the picture, to feel, smell and almost touch the surroundings he describes, is matched by his ability to tell a good story." (Michael Palin)
*An electronic version of a printed book that can be read on a computer or handheld device designed specifically for this purpose.
Formats for this Ebook
| Required Software | Any PDF Reader, Apple Preview |
|---|---|
| Supported Devices | Windows PC/PocketPC, Mac OS, Linux OS, Apple iPhone/iPod Touch. |
| # of Devices | Unlimited |
| Flowing Text / Pages | Pages |
| Printable? | Yes |
Book details
- PDF | 384 pages
- John Man(Author)
- Corgi (21 April 2016)
- English
- 2
- Biography
Review Text
By Adil Hussain on 2 March 2017 By BAG DESIGNER on 27 April 2017 A great short sharp book that helped me understand who Saladin was, highly readable and densley packed with insightful information.
By A on 21 August 2017 Good interesting read
By Amy on 24 June 2017 Good reading
By Keith Dale on 9 August 2017 A very informative well written book.
By Mrs J. Tilden on 19 June 2016 The seller was 5* as was the book. I enjoy books about different characters, all of whom we have heard and learned at school, but how often do we read an depth story about those people. This is an in depth story of one of the most fascinating and noble leaders of his time.
By Rehan Khan on 26 September 2015 What a wonderful read. Historical fact was spun out in the tradition of a great story and it had me totally enwrapped all the way through.
By Mr J N Lewis on 21 July 2016 Disappointing. Journalistic folksy style with superficial story telling, inadequate insight and poor historical contextualisation.
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I was gifted this book and on flicking through the first couple of pages for some reason or other it caught my attention and it found itself on the top of my to-read pile. It's an easy, to-the-point read. I can't vouch for its level of historical accuracy because I'm not a historian but it's for sure intriguing to come across a book in which an English author attempts to present a Muslim historical figure as the protagonist in his story. If nothing else, the book will definitely give you a feel for the environment in which Saladin (Salahuddin) lived (the "Near East" in the 12th Century) and the main characters – friend and foe (Nur al-Din, Reynald of Châttilon, Richard 'the Lionheart' etc) – with whom he crossed paths.