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Samarkand (Paperback)

by Amin Maalouf (Author), Russell Harris (Author) "Sometimes in Samarkand, in the evening of a slow and dreary day, city dwellers would come to while the time away at the dead-end Street..." (more)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Frequently Bought Together

Samarkand + Leo the African + The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Saqi Essentials)
Price For All Three: £22.71

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Product details

  • Paperback: 309 pages
  • Publisher: Abacus; New edition edition (22 Sep 1994)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0349106169
  • ISBN-13: 978-0349106168
  • Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.6 x 2.2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 89,707 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #1 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > M > Maalouf, Amin

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Product Description

Review

Maalouf's descriptions of the courts, the bazaar, the lives of mystics, kings and lovers are woven into an evocative and languid prose...and extraordinary book - Independent An example of the best type of historical fiction - Times Literary Supplement


Product Description

Accused of mocking the inviolate codes of Islam, the Persian poet and sage Omar Khayyam fortuitously finds sympathy with the very man who is to judge his alleged crimes. Recognising genuis, the judge decides to spare him and gives him instead a small, blank book, encouraging him to confine his thoughts to it alone. Thus beginds the seamless blend of fact and fiction that is Samarkand. Vividly re-creating the history of the manuscript of the Rubaiyaat of Omar Khayyam, Amin Maalouf spans continents and centuries with breathtaking vision: the dusky exoticism of 11th-century Persia, with its poetesses and assassins; the same country's struggles nine hundred years later, seen through the eyes of an American academic obsessed with finding the original manuscript ; and the fated maiden voyage of the Titanic, whose tragedy led to the Rubaiyaat's final resting place - all are brought to life with keen assurance by this gifted and award-winning writer.
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Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
Sometimes in Samarkand, in the evening of a slow and dreary day, city dwellers would come to while the time away at the dead-end Street of Two Taverns, near the pepper market. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Samarkand
83% buy the item featured on this page:
Samarkand 4.3 out of 5 stars (12)
£5.93
Balthasar's Odyssey
6% buy
Balthasar's Odyssey 5.0 out of 5 stars (2)
£6.84
Leo the African
5% buy
Leo the African 4.3 out of 5 stars (9)
£6.74
The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Saqi Essentials)
4% buy
The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Saqi Essentials) 4.6 out of 5 stars (21)
£10.04
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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The book deserves more than simply 5 stars..., 26 Nov 2001
By B. L. Weber "Benjo" (England/Brazil) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
A remarkable, beautifully written peace of work - both rich in its language and detail, and enlightening in its content.

The novel presents us with great insights into the history of the middle east and allows us to see why there are so many hatreds between the "east" and the "west". Yet he also shows, with his brilliant merging of fact and fiction, that in the deep philosophies of life, there need not be so many differences between the cultures afterall.

Moreover, he does this in a way that is extremely fascinating and readable - it is truly difficult to put the book down once it is in your hands.

Maalouf makes the ancient world come to life in front of your eyes with his vivid descriptions and characterisation. Truly brilliant.

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14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful blend of history, poetry and suspense., 8 Jul 2000
I had high expectations when I started reading this since I had already read Leo Africanus and The Crusades Through Arab Eyes and loved them. The book is a great introduction to Omar Khayyam and his quatrains although it is a historical "novel". It gives you quite an education on a number of ancient historical figures and major events. Examples are the Mongol Empire and the sect of the Assassins. I was particularly interested in the Assassins where the modern use of the word comes from and a major part of the story deals with them. I would recommend it to anyone who relishes history and a good read.
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11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Illustration of history, 2 Jul 2003
By A Customer
Samarkand is a lust and a must for everyone with an interest in the history of the Islamic world. Set against the background of 10th century Persia, invading Turks, the sekt of the Assassins and the fading of Islam as a quite liberal religion Malouf not writes but depicts his story. Knowing a bit of the history of the region and the backgrounds of Islam helps. Samarkand is a wonderful gate into a world so many people nowadays unrightfully fear.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Amin Maalouf - Samarkand
Samarkand

Engaging through out.
Maalouf presents a novel in different historical periods connected them in a very beautiful way. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Fidaa H. Nasser

3.0 out of 5 stars The first half is fab - 5 stars, the second half disappointing...
I was hooked by the first couple of paragaphs and loved the first story about Omar, [I could have done with a family tree, or a diagram of how everyone was linked to one another... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Muppet

1.0 out of 5 stars Best left on a sinkign ship
I had to read this for a book group and thought it was one of the most stupendously tedious and pretentious books I'd come across in a long time. Read more
Published on 17 Jul 2005 by caitlin

5.0 out of 5 stars If you like Umberto Eco...
... but get lost in the mountains of research info (or showing-off, if you like) then read Amin Maalouf. Read more
Published on 5 Jul 2004 by A. B. Tessier

3.0 out of 5 stars Delightful story, but where is the rest of it?
Great books don't have to be physically big books but this was a story that I felt could have reached an epic scale without ever being dull. Read more
Published on 10 Jul 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Enchanted work highly recommended
I found this book hard work in the first few pages but by the end of chapter one I had entered the enchanted world of medieval Islam complete with schisms, love, murder and poetry... Read more
Published on 24 May 2000 by sjacobs@uk.constellar.com

5.0 out of 5 stars The best novel i have ever read!
You can not beleive that i read this novel 3-4 times.It is great and charming.You feel yourself in the world of"one thounsand night and night". Go and buy a copy NOW
Published on 15 Mar 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars full of atmosphere,evocative, beautifully crafted.
I loved reading every word and I recommend it to anyone who wants to be immersed in the fabled days -alas,centuries past-of an magnificently self contained Isslamic age .
Published on 25 Mar 1999

5.0 out of 5 stars AMIN MAALOUF,over looked by noble prize comitee.
SAMARKAND IS SIMPLY ONE OF THE BEST WORKES EVER WRITTEN.AMIN MAALOUF should be nominated for a prize. RECOMEND READING HIS OTHER WORKES.
Published on 17 Feb 1999

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