Author(s): Maria Rosa Menocal

General

This enthralling history, widely hailed as a revelation of a "lost" golden age, brings to vivid life the rich and thriving culture of "al-Andalus, " the kingdom in medieval Spain where, for more than seven centuries, Muslims, Jews, and Christians lived together in an atmosphere of tolerance, and literature, science, and the arts flourished. - A Washington Post bestseller. - A work of history that resonates powerfully in our own time--a reminder of the possibility for peaceful coexistence among Muslims, Jews, and Christians. - A book that will fascinate those readers who propelled Karen Armstrong's A History of God, Thomas Cahill's The Gifts of the Jews, Robert Lacey's The Year 1000, et al., onto paperback bestseller lists. - Reading groups will find much to discuss in THE ORNAMENT F THE WORLD. Review Quotes: "Splendid.... An affecting portrait of a lost Iberian world.... The beauty of Menocal's work lies in her craftsmanship and patience, in her eye for the illuminating anecdote, for the stray life that catches a time and its wonder." "A seductively written history.... Menocal displays a lavish sense of place that should be the envy of many novelists." "It is no exaggeration to say that what we presumptuously call Western' culture is owed in large measure to the Andalusian enlightenment.... This book partly restores to us a world we have lost." "Engaging and accessible.... This study of medieval Spain shows that a powerful Islamic society and its committed Christian opponents were once capable of contending in arms for mastery of a rich territory, without losing their sense of mutual respect.... It is a valuable contribution."