Tab Article

ratings: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: History / Middle Eastern History / Islamic Studies

Book Review:
Bernard Lewis's ''The Assassins'' is a masterful, concise, and utterly fascinating history of one of the most notorious secret sects in the world. With the authority and clarity of a true scholarly giant, Lewis unravels the truth from the legends surrounding the Assassins—a radical Islamic group that terrified both Crusaders and the Muslim establishment alike. He traces their origins in Shi'a Islam, explores their mysterious doctrines, and profiles their legendary leader, the 'Old Man of the Mountain.' What emerges is a gripping account of the first group to systematically use murder as a political weapon. The Economist praised it as ''learned, lucid and elegant,'' and it's easy to see why. More than just a history, this book offers profound insights into the roots of political violence that still resonate today. Essential reading for anyone interested in Islamic history, the Crusades, or the long history of terrorism.