About the Author

Christian C. Sahner is associate professor of Islamic history at the University of Oxford and a fellow of St Cross College. He is the author of Among the Ruins: Syria Past and Present.

Reviews

"Shortlisted for the British-Kuwait Friendship Society Book Prize"

"Finalist for the Award for Excellence in the Historical Study of Religion, American Academy of Religion"

"The Spectator's Books of the Year"

"This book is a real achievement. It is a fascinating read for any scholar of Christian–Muslim relations, since it deals with a sensitive topic analytically and in an academically balanced manner. . . . In addition, although the author declares that he had no intension to connect the past with the present, the book opens up a larger window of understanding for any reader who is interested in current events in the Middle East."---Risto Jukko, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations

"Meticulously researched and documented. Sahner’s readings of the sources reflect great skill and care for sound methodology. As a result, the book is a welcome contribution to studies focusing on medieval Christian communities
and their relationships with Muslims."---Charles Tieszen, Scottish Journal of Theology

"Christian Sahner has published an excellent study of a long-overlooked and yet extremely important topic."---Stephen J. Shoemaker, Medieval Encounters

"Sahner’s excellent book . . . draw[s] a detailed, bold, and colorful view of this new complex society in its formative centuries. Through minute and sensitive analysis of a wide array of martyrological stories Sahner deals with the most significant processes that forged a new society and culture during the first three centuries of Islam."---Milka Levy-Rubin, Bustan: The Middle East Book Review

"This is an articulate, well-researched and informed first book, which examines martyrdom, violence, conversion, and identity formation among Christian communities in lands under Islamic rule during the eighth century and into the ninth."---J. E. Tearney-Pearce, Al-Masaq