Alamut

by Vladimir Bartol

Book Overview

Alamut takes place in 11th Century Persia, in the fortress of Alamut, where self-proclaimed prophet Hasan ibn Sabbah is setting up his mad but brilliant plan to rule the region with a handful of elite fighters who are to become his living daggers. By creating a virtual paradise at Alamut, filled with beautiful women, lush gardens, wine and hashish, Sabbah is able to convince his young fighters that they can reach paradise if they follow his...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1556436815
• ISBN13: 9781556436819
• Release Date: November 2007
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

compelling and apt

although originally written many years ago, this book gives a whole new glimpse of present day realities. two intertwining stories manage to convey a world of ideas, ideals, intrigue and fascinating political ramifications. a delightful and light read, interesting and entertaining. a novel worth keeping, and so beautiful you'll want to keep it prominently!

Poetic and lyrical

I can not deny that Alamut is a fascinating historical novel but it is also so much more. It is a hauntingly eloquent work that combines poetry and prose in perfect harmony without being heavy handed or prolix. Enrapt by the story, I was transported by the language. Alamut was easily one of the most beautifully written and articulately translated books I have ever read.

An excellent read both for entertainment and information

As the former reviewer states, Alamut is an excellent historical novel. I think any reader who is interested in what is obviously the burgeoning issue of contemporary global society, involving the clash between 'Western Society' and middle-eastern islamic cultures, should get a copy of this book. Alamut not only helps one realize how rich, varied, and old some of the cultures involved in this issue are, but helps remind one that there isn't really an 'us vs. them', and that there is as little a 'them' as there is an 'us'. On top of being historically informative and intriguing, this book is very entertaining. And not only is it a fairly quick read, but one that is broadly accessible to many ages and personalities. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to know more about the history of an amazingly culturally-rich area of the world, or anybody who just wants a good book to read and likes stories about love, action, and intrigue.

A deftly researched and presented historical novel

First published sixty years ago, Alamut is a literary classic by Slovenian writer Vladimir Bartol, a deftly researched and presented historical novel about one of the world's first political terrorists, 11th century Ismaili leader Hasan ibn Sabbah, whose machinations with drugs and carnal pleasures deceived his followers into believing that he would deliver them to a paradise in the afterlife, so that they would destroy themselves in suicide missions for him. Flawless translated into English (and also published in eighteen other languages), Alamut portrays even the most Machiavellian individuals as human - ruthless or murderous, but also subject to human virtues, vices, and tragedies. An afterword by Michael Biggins offering context on the author's life, the juxtaposition of his writing to the rise of dictatorial conquest that would erupt into World War II, and the medly of reactions to its publication, both in the author's native Slovenia and worldwide, round out this superb masterpiece. An absolute must-have for East European literature shelves, and quite simply a thoroughly compelling novel cover to cover.