From Isfahan through Samarqand and to the Taj Mahal the luxurious Persian style took Islamic art to new aesthetic heights In this superbly crafted survey Henri Stierlin discusses the vast scope of Islamic architecture and architectural decoration from the frontiers of Iran to the heart of India and places it within its historical context while copious photographs of Islams monuments ceramics miniatures and carpets enable us to use art as a window into Islamic culture.

The final section of the book is an in depth presentation of nine great masterpieces of Islamic architecture including the Friday Mosque in Isfahan the Registan in Samarqand the abandoned Mughal city of Fatehpur Sikri and Agras miraculous Taj Mahal.

Written in a lively and accessible style this magnificently illustrated book shows us not only the range but also the amazing skill and virtuosity of the Islamic architect With its clear yet thoroughly comprehensive coverage of this immense subject it is an indispensible overview of one of this great civilizations artistic traditions.