The battle of Poitiers
Subtitle: Charles Martel and Abd al-Rahman
By: Jurji Zaidan ; translated from the Arabic by William Granara ; with an introduction by the Zaidan Foundation
Contributors: Granara, William
Series: Novels of Islamic history in translation series
Publisher: Zaidan Foundation
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Bethesda, MD
Language: eng
Number of pages: 239
ISBN-13: 9780984843503
Subjects: Tours, Battle of, France, 732; Fiction
Work titles: Shārl wa-ʻAbd al-Raḥmān
Description: It is the year 732 AD. Ten years after the Arab conquest of Spain in 711AD, Emir Abd al-Rahman Governor of Spain, conquered and became Governor of southern France. He is moving northwards towards Poitiers to confront the Franks under Charles Martel and then overrun Rome and Constantinople and reach Damascus, the capital of the Islamic Empire. Will Europe be able to thwart the plan to bring Islam to the whole Mediterranean basin? As the armies of Abdel Rahman and Charles Martel confront each other at Poitiers, the future of Christendom in Europe depends on the outcome of this epic battle... Romance and intrigue provide the central plot of this historical novel that are woven into the events culminating in the Battle of Poitiers. The beautiful Maryam is a woman of extraordinary honor and great courage who has fought in many battles. She has many suitors: Hani, Captain of the Arab Cavalry and Bustam his rival and Chieftain of a Berber Tribe. Last but not least Emir 'Abd al-Rahman, is also enamored with her. A fast paced game of spies and counterspies is played out as the identity and true loyalties of many of the novel's main characters, straddling both the Christian and Muslim worlds, is revealed -- influencing the outcome of the Battle of Poitiers and the contest for Maryam's heart... --Book Description.
Notes: "First published in 1904 in Arabic, Cairo, Dar-al-Hilal."--Vii.

"A historical novel describing the Arab invasion of France at the beginning of the eighth century up to the banks of the Loire River near Tours. And the reasons for the failure of the Arab invasion and how the Franks, under the leadership of Charles Martel, united and saved Europe."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 239).

Translated from the Arabic.