Les Croisades vues par les Arabes

Amin Maalouf tells the story of the Crusades, from the first expedition in 1096 to the fall of Acre in 1291, using the accounts of Arab chroniclers such as Ibn al-Athir and Usama ibn Munqidh. The Franks appear as invaders, often seen as brutal and puzzling, while the Muslim world is divided among rival rulers. He follows figures such as Saladin and details events like the capture of Jerusalem and the massacres at Maarat al-Numan.

Readers who want to know how the Crusades looked from the other side will find this a clear, narrative account. It is aimed at general readers rather than specialists, and it shows how that history still shapes attitudes between the Middle East and the West.

Outward-looking and contemplative; a moderate read.

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