Saladin: The Warrior Who Defended His People

World History Biographies

by Flora Geyer

Our children's understanding of the Muslim world has never been as important as it is today. As events in the Middle East affect world politics, and the Muslim community grows in the United States, knowledge of Islamic tradition and history are now crucial.

Flora Geyer's informative, accessible book tells the story of the Crusades from a Muslim point of view. The narrative follows Saladin from his birth into a prominent Kurdish family in Tikrit, Mesopotamia, in 1138. His formative military career leads to Saladin's appointment as vizier of Egypt at 31. After revitalizing the Egyptian economy, Saladin initiates campaigns against smaller Muslim states, eventually uniting Islamic forces and dispelling rivalries that had long hampered the Muslim resistance to the Crusades. Inspired by intense devotion to jihad, or "holy war," Saladin's army recaptures the holy city of Jerusalem after 88 years of Christian occupation.

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Genres: Nonfiction

64 pages, Hardcover

First published July 11, 2006

Reviews

[Mohammed Algoblan · Rating 3 out of 5]

كتاب جيّد، مختصر لسيرة صلاح الدين الأيوبي، تناول بعض النقاط عن شخصيته. أشك في مصداقية الكتاب كونه وصف صلاح الدين في مراهقته أنه محب للنساء والرياضة والشرب عن الدين.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. I really enjoyed the format and the pictures and text very much. It was written more for children, and I liked that because it was much simpler, but I still felt like a learned quite a lot. I like Saladin and wanted to know more about him. I was intrigued by him after I watched Kingdom of Heaven a few years ago. I wanted to find out more about him after I saw that film. This book would be good for school kids or for anyone who just wanted a nice over view of his life. The pictures and art work are quite lovely. I would buy more books in this series.

[Mari · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author uses the words 'probably', 'likely' and 'some people said' abundantly throughout the text.

The text did not feel completely accurate. She wrote that he was known for his generosity, but exemplifies it by saying how ruthless he was in murder...

In the end, she says, "But Saladin was not perfect. He spent many years winning land for himself before he decided to defend the Muslim faith" (58).

I've never read before that he wanted the land for himself?!

[Sahmed3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saladin: The Warrior Who Defended His People is not just about Saladin's bravery against the Crusaders, it is also about how kind and how merciful Saladin was against his enemies. After Saladin's first victory against the Crusaders, he let old and sick people leave instead of keeping them as prisoners. In another battle, Saladin refused to attack a room where a wedding was taking place. After one of Saladin's last battles, he made peace with the Crusaders when he made peace with the Crusaders when he realized it was no use fighting with them anymore. This book just doesn't talk about Saladin's bravery, it talks about his kinder and more merciful side. I found this book very interesting but I was disapointed because it did not go talk much about Saladin.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the first of this series of biographies we have tried and I was a little disappointed. It had wonderful photos and pictures and lots of information about the culture and the world at the this time in history. But I was looking for more information about Saladin himself. The book tells us in the conclusion that he was known for his compassion and kindness but nothing in the previous 50 pages gives us even one indication or anecdote to that effect. Lots of dry facts about Saladin and his accomplishments but nothing to write home about.

[Badr Aleissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

دائم احتار في تقديم كتاب مناسب للاطفال خصوصاً في مجال التاريخ...اولاً هذه من الكتب المترجمة من مؤسسة محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم ...

الكتاب كظاهر جميل وطريقة العرض روعة مدعمه كثير من الصور ...لكن المحتوى ينقصة الكثير فضلاً عن الترجمة الضعيفة...واستقاء المعلومة اغلب مصادرة من الكتب كطرف واحد (لم يطلع على التريخ المكتوب لدى المسلمين)فمصدر المعلومة يحتاج الى تاكد عن صحتها...

بشكل عام جميل

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

سرد لسيرة مختصرة عن حياة صلاح الدين الأيوبي موجهة للأطفال غير المسلمين

الكتب مترجم من سلسلة إنجليزي لناشيونال جيوجرافيك وتم طباعته ونشره دار النشر مصرية بالتعاون مع مؤسسة محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم

الكتاب غير موجه للأطفال المسلمين بتاتاً، رغم أن المعلومات في الكتاب الخاصة بالدين الإسلامي والمسلمين وعاداتهم صحيحة

كتاب بلاد طعم، وأفضل ما فيه الرسومات في صفحاته

[Yusef · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book, they talk about Saladin's life from when he was born to his death. They explain why he is famous and what he has accomplished, and all of his achievements. They also explain his part in the Holy War. This book is a biography about the important parts of Saladin's life.