Alamut [Hardcover]

Vladimir Bartol (Author), Michael Biggins (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 15, 2005

Alamut is the first-ever English publication of BartolÕs near-forgotten masterpiece based on the life and legend of the original Òassassin, 11th century Ismaili leader Hasan ibn Sabbah. Revered by millions for his brilliance, and disdained by countless others for his suicide missions, Sabbah has inspired scores of writers throughout the centuries, including Rimbaud, Nerval, Borges and William Burroughs.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...[a] superb masterpiece. An absolute must-have for East European literature shelves...a thoroughly compelling novel cover to cover." -- Midwest Book Review, January, 2005

"...a shifting collage of passions, adventure and sacrifice. The settings are sumptuously described...characters are charismatic and complex." -- Barbara Lloyd McMichael

"For all of its provocative ideas and sometimes eerily prescient incidents, Alamut is also successful simply as an entertaining yarn." -- The Seattle Times

Alamut is an adventure story from 1938 which transforms itself...into a nightmare novel of the new century. -- Olivier Maison, Journal de la Culture

If Osama bin Laden did not exist, Vladimir Bartol would have invented him. -- L'Express

Like Borges, [Bartol] raises questions but offers few answers...and will leave you with an inexhaustible restlessness and uncertainty. -- Ricardo Arturo Ríos Torres, La Prensa

From the Publisher

Michael Biggins has translated works by a number of Slovenia's leading contemporary writers. He currently curates the library collections for Russian and East European studies and teaches in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, both at the University of Washington in Seattle.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 391 pages
• Publisher: Scala House Press; First edition. edition (January 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972028730
• ISBN-13: 978-0972028738
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,377,490 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A deftly researched and presented historical novel, January 9, 2005

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alamut (Hardcover)

First published sixty years ago, Alamut is a literary classic by Slovenian writer Vladimir Bartol, a deftly researched and presented historical novel about one of the world's first political terrorists, 11th century Ismaili leader Hasan ibn Sabbah, whose machinations with drugs and carnal pleasures deceived his followers into believing that he would deliver them to a paradise in the afterlife, so that they would destroy themselves in suicide missions for him. Flawless translated into English (and also published in eighteen other languages), Alamut portrays even the most Machiavellian individuals as human - ruthless or murderous, but also subject to human virtues, vices, and tragedies. An afterword by Michael Biggins offering context on the author's life, the juxtaposition of his writing to the rise of dictatorial conquest that would erupt into World War II, and the medly of reactions to its publication, both in the author's native Slovenia and worldwide, round out this superb masterpiece. An absolute must-have for East European literature shelves, and quite simply a thoroughly compelling novel cover to cover.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetic and lyrical, July 13, 2005

By 

A. D. DiRenzo (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alamut (Hardcover)

I can not deny that Alamut is a fascinating historical novel but it is also so much more. It is a hauntingly eloquent work that combines poetry and prose in perfect harmony without being heavy handed or prolix. Enrapt by the story, I was transported by the language. Alamut was easily one of the most beautifully written and articulately translated books I have ever read.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent read both for entertainment and information, July 11, 2005

By 

Thomas Bombadillo - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alamut (Hardcover)

As the former reviewer states, Alamut is an excellent historical novel. I think any reader who is interested in what is obviously the burgeoning issue of contemporary global society, involving the clash between 'Western Society' and middle-eastern islamic cultures, should get a copy of this book. Alamut not only helps one realize how rich, varied, and old some of the cultures involved in this issue are, but helps remind one that there isn't really an 'us vs. them', and that there is as little a 'them' as there is an 'us'. On top of being historically informative and intriguing, this book is very entertaining. And not only is it a fairly quick read, but one that is broadly accessible to many ages and personalities. I would highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to know more about the history of an amazingly culturally-rich area of the world, or anybody who just wants a good book to read and likes stories about love, action, and intrigue.