Review
"A meticulous quest for the historical Muhammad...This sympathetic, engrossing biography portrays Muhammad as a passionate, complex, fallible human being--a charismatic leader possessed of political as well as spiritual gifts, and a prophet whose monotheistic vision intuitively answered the deepest longings of his people." -- "Publishers Weekly""Respectful without being reverential, knowledgeable without being pedantic, and, above all, readable. It succeeds because [Armstrong] brings Muhammad to life as a fully rounded human being." -- "The Economist""This portrayal of the prophet of Islam and the setting from which he emerged will captivate and enlighten general readers with a newfound understanding of modern events in the Middle East." -- "Library Journal""A fresh, well-written, and often insightful account whose ten chapters give special attention to the religions roots, experiences, and motivations of Muhammad." -- "Choice"
Synopsis
Discusses the life of the founder of Islam, the emergence of Islam in the midst of the turbulence of seventh-century Arabia, and Western views of the prophet and his religion from a historical perspective.