Stealing from the Saracens

How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe

By: Diana Darke

Narrated by: Christine Rendel

Against a backdrop of Islamophobia, Europeans are increasingly airbrushing from history their cultural debt to the Muslim world. But this legacy lives on in some of Europe's most recognizable buildings, from Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Houses of Parliament.

This book reveals the Arab and Islamic roots of Europe's architectural heritage. Diana Darke traces ideas and styles from vibrant Middle Eastern centers like Damascus, Baghdad, and Cairo, via Muslim Spain, Venice, and Sicily into Europe. She describes how medieval crusaders, pilgrims, and merchants encountered Arab Muslim culture on their way to the Holy Land; and explores more recent artistic interaction between Ottoman and Western cultures, including Sir Christopher Wren's inspirations in the "Saracen" style of Gothic architecture.

Recovering this long yet overlooked history of architectural "borrowing", Stealing from the Saracens is a rich tale of cultural exchange, shedding new light on Europe's greatest landmarks.

©2020 Diana Darke (P)2022 Tantor

Fascinating book and stellar narration!

I was intrigued from the first seconds of this insightful explanation of little known influences. Or at least this was news to me! I loved Christine Rendel’s thoughtful narration. She made the subject intriguing and extremely clear. Brava to the author and the narrator!

A Good History of a Relatively Obscure Period

Diana Darke does a good job of tracing the various Islamic architectural influences on European architecture. These connections are underappreciated, and Darke deserves considerable credit for her researches and her clear writing. Unfortunately, this otherwise praiseworthy book is marred by the author's weak understanding of Classical spatial development in post-Renaissance European architecture.