“Outstanding. Jonathan Phillips has written a compelling account of arguably the most inspirational of Islamic military heroes.”

—Christopher de Bellaigue, author of The Islamic Enlightenment

“An authoritative and brilliantly told account of the life of one of the world's greatest—and most famous—military leaders. Jonathan Phillips leaves no stone unturned in this impressive and lively history of the genius who was Saladin.”

—Peter Frankopan, author of The Silk Roads: A New History of the World and The New Silk Roads: The Present and Future of the World

“Vivid and authoritative, with glistening details on every page. Phillips explains Saladin’s ability to mesmerize not just through the achievements of his lifetime but through his inspiration of Arab leaders, including Nasser, Assad, and Saddam Hussein, ever since.”

—James Barr, author of Lords of the Desert: The Battle between the United States and Great Britain for Supremacy in the Middle East

“This breathtaking biography of the Ayyubid conqueror Saladin exceeds all others both in its erudition and in its brilliant analysis of Saladin’s modern representations in the political mobilization of Islam.”

—William Chester Jordan, author of The Apple of His Eye: Converts from Islam in the Reign of Louis IX