Washington Irving, has long been admired for his writings on American lore and history, but his work on Islamic subjects, particularly his studies of Islamic Spain, deserve wider recognition. The author first visited Granada in 1828, and revisited the city many times, living within the precincts of the Alhambra and having access to the many historical documents housed there. The Alhambra is a more personal study reflecting the author?s enchantment with the splendours of the palace and his intimate knowledge of the history of the Muslims in Spain

The decisive encounters between the East and West-- Islam and Christendom--in the fields of war or peace had the most far reaching effects on their destinies. This is one of the most important subjects of Islamic history, indeed perhaps the most important of all. Besides its abundant and eventful episodes, it throws much light on this eternal struggle between the East and the West. As many of these events are scantily dealt with by the Islamic chroniclers, careful reference to Western sources and scholars been made to analyse the subject in detail.

Hz. Khadija (Turkish)