Historical fiction book · Curated
Samarkand
Amin Maalouf · historical fiction
In eleventh-century Persia a judge who might punish Omar Khayyam for his verses gives him a blank book instead, and the Rubaiyat crosses the Seljuk court, the vizier Nizam al-Mulk, and Hassan-i Sabbah’s fortress at Alamut. Amin Maalouf’s 1988 novel (English translation) is medieval biographical historical fiction of that manuscript, taken up again in the 1890s by an American who carries it toward the Titanic.
Why read it: A widely searched Persian historical novel—the Maalouf title readers look up by name (Prix Maison de la Presse), and a Samarkand counterpart to My Name Is Red already on the shelf.
About this historical novel
Samarkand by Amin Maalouf is historical fiction set around 1070–1131 / 1896–1912 in the Medieval / Victorian / Gilded Age period with key settings including Samarkand, Nishapur, Isfahan, Alamut. In eleventh-century Persia a judge who might punish Omar Khayyam for his verses gives him a blank book instead, and the Rubaiyat crosses the Seljuk court, the vizier Nizam al-Mulk, and Hassan-i Sabbah’s fortress at Alamut. Amin Maalouf’s 1988 novel (English translation) is medieval biographical historical fiction of that manuscript, taken up again in the 1890s by an American who carries it toward the Titanic.
On HisFic we tag it under 4. Biographical fiction and 1. Literary historical fiction so you can pair it with similar story types. Recurring themes include poetry, faith, power, the manuscript, and philosophy. A widely searched Persian historical novel—the Maalouf title readers look up by name (Prix Maison de la Presse), and a Samarkand counterpart to My Name Is Red already on the shelf.
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Plot summary
In eleventh-century Persia a judge who might punish Omar Khayyam for his verses gives him a blank book instead, and the Rubaiyat crosses the Seljuk court, the vizier Nizam al-Mulk, and Hassan-i Sabbah’s fortress at Alamut. Amin Maalouf’s 1988 novel (English translation) is medieval biographical historical fiction of that manuscript, taken up again in the 1890s by an American who carries it toward the Titanic. A widely searched Persian historical novel—the Maalouf title readers look up by name (Prix Maison de la Presse), and a Samarkand counterpart to My Name Is Red already on the shelf.
Subgenres
Eras
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Regions & places
Middle East · Asia
Samarkand · Nishapur · Isfahan · Alamut · Persia
Themes
- poetry
- faith
- power
- the manuscript
- philosophy
Tags
biographical · award-winner