This edition in the 'Fortress' series continues with a look of Saracen Stronholds in what is now called the Middle East. This is a broad territory that goes from North Africa to the Black Sea over to India as Islam expanded during this time period. Many of these structures were built atop existing ones and all used locally available materials. This meant that in many places, the building material was brick as stone wasn't available. Brick has the down side of not being as durable and in several places, it means that the remains of structures have succumbed to the ravages of time.

Interestingly, unlike European strongholds, these were not built to house and protect the ruling class so much as they were designed to defend a city or a frontier. These buildings very much reflected the people who built them and many were designed by architects from Damascus or Cairo.

This superbly illustrated volume looks and the wide variety of styles and lay-outs of these fortifications.  Many of them are still extant to some degree or another and are very popular tourist destinations. Others are far from the beaten track and so are un-restored.

The author provides a historical background to the events of the time and then takes us on tours of some of the fortifications. Some have been restored and others are not, yet each one of them is unique in several respects, having been built or modified as to the needs of the owner or the landscape. There is also a section on visiting many of these places as local tourist industries have been built around them.

Overall, a fascinating look at these ancient constructs and how they fared over the years. As with other Osprey titles, this is one that I know you will enjoy reading.

February 2010

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