DOC Assassins: The Story of Medieval Islam's Secret Sect by W. B. Bartlett in History

Review

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful. DisappointingBy GogolWhen I originally bought this I was hoping for something more refreshing than the book by Lewis on the Assassins however on reading the preface and finding out that one of the first things the author does is pay homage to Lewis (Is this some kind of prerequisite to getting your book published these days?) I didnt hold out much hope.If you have the Lewis book on the assassins then you almost certainly dont need to buy this one. A number of things let me down with this book not least on checking the bibliography at the back and finding largely the standard Western translations of a few of ibn Athirs books; Juwaynis and ibn Munqidh.The book covers the well trodden ground in the history of the Assassins; largely from an entirely western perspective. The first encounters from a Western crusader to the early history of the Ismailis in Egypt and the split causing the Nizari sect. The establishment of their castles in Persia and Syria and the various assassinations that took place leading up to their eventual fall and spread into India.Unfortunately this book offers nothing new. There is no study of the Ismaili philosophy; nothing on what happened to the religious beliefs of the Nizaris or the Ismailis beyond the Mongol invasion. Nothing on the all too obvious links with the Kizilbashi in North East Iran and East Turkey or the Alevi groups in Syria and Turkey or even their possible influence on Sufism through the Bektashi order. In short nothing.If you really want to read something of substance about this group you may want to try the institute of Ismaili studies. This and the book of Bernard Lewis is nothing more than coffee table sensationalism.1 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great Book!By WalterOne of the most amazing books; not only on the Nizaris (Assassins); but also on the changes in the balance of power in the middle east.