On religion, harems, and Alamut
I have been a long time fan of the Assassins Creed franchise. Amid the thrill of ultimate-action and grandiose adventures, the games touch upon important inflection points in global history. And you get to meet a few celebrities too. From Socrates to Julius Casear, and all the way to Leonardo Da Vinci; each character is flavored with sprinkles of conspiracy-magic and intrigue. Ubisoft found an enchanting formula, particularly for history buffs like myself.
What excited me the most, however, was the reality behind the mythology, and as I sought to get deeper and deeper into the actual history of the assassins, I found myself looking up to Alamut. A notorious, yet legendary, fortress perched atop a mountain, surrounded by nothing but air. For legend has it the fortress was built by one of the kings of Daylam who saw an eagle atop an impenetrable mountain. One does not need to have read Sun Tzu to realize the importance of building a stronghold in such a place where only the eagles nest. But build the king did, a most magnificent structure with equal parts solidity and comfort. The fortress was built to withstand not only the ruthless weather systems of the Alborz mountains, but the harsh realities of human conflict. Yet it famously housed exquisite gardens and libraries for the nourishment of the soul. Now on to the book.
Alamut is a remarkable novel by the Slovenian author Vladimir Bartol. Even moreso than the name, the cover art of the specific edition I happened to be reading looked fantastic. Structured upon its namesake in fortresses, the text is as brutal as it gets when dealing with matters of politics, kings, and relgious strife. On the other hand, it has a transformative power in expository chapters diving into the author’s mind. It exposes the reader to a litany of religious beliefs and ideologies in Islam. Bartol’s knowledge and insight feels unending at times.
One of the stronger suits of Bartol’s magnum opus is the rich colorization of 11/12th century Persia. Vivid descriptions transport the reader into oh-not-so-much simpler times. When messages travelled as fast as pigeons could carry them, and horses needed to be changed at caravanserais along the way. The visually rich setting is brought to life by famous historical characters from the past, most notably our anti-hero in the form of Hassan ibn Sabbah, a Nizari Ismaili dai who led the Ismailis into political power and roleplay. And then of course is the Seljuk wazir (vizier) Nizam ul Mulk who’s vengeful actions drive the story forward and leads ibn Sabbah into engaging his followers into a cult-like trance, into the fedayeen. To complete the trio, comes along a charismatic poet, Omar Khayyam. While the strife between Hassan and Nizam ul Mulk is political, Omar Khayyam serves as the wall where ideas are bounced and engaging conversation is served to the reader.
It needs to be mentioned here that Alamut is a work of fiction. It does not claim to fill the gaps in your history knowledge. It is loosely based on real events and that is all there is to it. Bartol also makes use of historical “facts” that have been debunked. Nevertheless, the story takes place at an interesting crossroad worth exploring further.
It is no suprise considering the fact that this very book inspired the franchise I speak of. Just like in the case of Assassins Creed, the layering of myth upon historical legends make up a very good recipe that can be enjoyed by those looking for a stories within histories as well as those who love the stories and others who love history. Alamut comes as a highly recommended read for fans of historical fiction who love the greater emphasis on history.
Goodreads Review
This is a page turner, a must-read novel with some deep-rooted ideas scratching away at the religious garb. Bartol’s expansive gamut paints a rich tapestry of the religious and political idiosyncrasies of the Islamic branches. Will write a detailed review but too tired at this hour. Tldr: Read it if you are remotely interested in Middle-Eastern history.
June 2022