Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating Book, A Tale Told Well
Review: The Crusades Through Arab Eyes by Amin Maalouf (translated by Jon Rothschild) is a fascinating look at the familiar story of the Crusades in an unfamiliar way (for the vast majority of Western readers). The author manages to use the various Arab chroniclers and the, at times, complicated story they tell and turn it into a coherent, interesting, rich story of a people who watch as a mysterious invasion takes place and they first learn to deal with these strange invaders and later to expel them. This book will be of interest to those not completely familiar with European versions of the Crusades but for those who have read or studied the Crusades in other books this will be a truly dazzling eye-opener. An important book and an intersting read.
Rating:
Summary: A very enjoyable read
Review: The title says it all and the book was such a delight. This was one of those few historical books that I just could not put down. The peculiarities and absurdities of the "western barbarians" come to life. A very fresh perspective on an old subject.
Rating:
Summary: HISTORIANS LOVE THIS BOOK !
Review: This book is a great guide to understanding of the current conflicts in Middle East.It is a meticulously prepared documentary.You will read in the book how barbaric the crusaders were when they were massacring the muslims,the jews on their way.The even performed a canniballistic party when they roasted and ate their foes in Ma-ara,Syria!Their aim was to retake the Holy Land.But they brought terror with no peers in stead.And you'll also read how the Arabs betrayed each other and made alliances with the enemy.By the way, you'll be astonished how deep rooted the terrorism was in MidEast as the elusive terrorist leader Hassan Sabbah(he was the head of Hashhasiuns-Assasins-) was organizing his men in the hideouts of northern Iranian mountains.It looks as if that little had changed to this day.
But those were the times when the elite of Europe were speaking Arabic-which they shun today-.And those were the glorious times when the science and medicine in Muslim world was far more superior than those of Christian west.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent.
Review: This book is more historical fact and deeper than his other books but just as readable. This book shows that the reason the crusades lasted so long was not so much the foreign invaders as the various Arab and Turkic kingdoms in constant jealous battle with each other.It presents the other side of the crusades as opposed to the one we always read about, yet I found it quite objective.
Rating:
Summary: Remarkably objective
Review: This book is one of my favourites. In addition to reiterating the usual historical facts concerning the crusades, Maalouf manages to remain an objective and excellent writer. His objectivity is evident in the fact that instead of idolizing, or vilifying, either side in the conflict; he presents the facts as seen from BOTH sides. Maalouf is of the few people who have managed to transcend the Middle Eastern/Western perspective. His value as a writer is that he emerges with an insider's understanding of both. That understanding allows him to be far more extensive in his research material than many other writers have been. As a result, both sides of the conflict are equally represented. Finally, this book is a genuine "good read", its well written and very involving. I finished it in two days. For anyone interested in an equally well scripted dialogue on the crusades, check out the BBC's 4 part series. ;)
Rating:
Summary: In response to attacks on 'objectivity'...
Review: This book is well described by its title. Amin Maalouf provides the historical perspective of the Crusades from the point of view of Arabs. Maalouf begins with the arrival of the Franj ("a word which is used in colloquial Arabic even today to designate Westerners, and the French in particular") and chronicles the conflict, ending with the conflict with the Mongols.
Maalouf utilizes the perspective of Arab historians of the day in order to give the book a high degree of legitimacy. This analysis based of primary sources is the reason that I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history, and of course anyone who wishes to fully understand the Crusades.
Rating: 
Summary: The Crusades Through Arab Eyes
Review: This book is well described by its title. Amin Maalouf provides the historical perspective of the Crusades from the point of view of Arabs. Maalouf begins with the arrival of the Franj ("a word which is used in colloquial Arabic even today to designate Westerners, and the French in particular") and chronicles the conflict, ending with the conflict with the Mongols.
Maalouf utilizes the perspective of Arab historians of the day in order to give the book a high degree of legitimacy. This analysis based of primary sources is the reason that I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history, and of course anyone who wishes to fully understand the Crusades.
Rating:
Summary: The Crusades Through Arab Eyes
Review: This book is well described by its title. Amin Maalouf provides the historical perspective of the Crusades from the point of view of Arabs. Maalouf begins with the arrival of the Franj ("a word which is used in colloquial Arabic even today to designate Westerners, and the French in particular") and chronicles the conflict, ending with the conflict with the Mongols.
Maalouf utilizes the perspective of Arab historians of the day in order to give the book a high degree of legitimacy. This analysis based of primary sources is the reason that I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history, and of course anyone who wishes to fully understand the Crusades.
Rating: 
Summary: Important, well written, but flawed
Review: This book offers an important contrasting perspective to accounts of the Crusades from the European point of view. One cannot help but be appalled at the many atrocities that were perpetrated on the peoples (Christian, Jew, and Muslim) of the Middle East by the European adventurers. I think there are two flaws, however: 1. Malouf does seem to have an axe to grind and this seeps into his narrative at times. The work would be even more powerful if he did not seem to set out to prove the perfidy of the invaders. 2. To the casual reader without a strong background knowledge in the events related, the one-sidednesss of the narrative leaves too many unanswered questions. Why did the Europeans invade when they did, and where they did? What were the economic, political, and social forces that drove them? He doesn't offer any insight into the behavior of the Europeans, which, if he did, would make it a more valuable work for the introductory reader.
Rating:
Summary: Long winded but Excellent
Review: This book paints a very open minded picture of the crusades. I was very impressed with the way it presented the information. I guess, being a Muslim my self, Alls Well That Ends Well was particularly appealing, but the thought of the thousands who died in the name of a senseless conflict, is spine tingling. If you can visualize, this book is bound to transport you.
| 
