Commander of the Faithful

This biography and military history of Islamic resistance to the French occupation of Algeria lends valuable insight into current US/Muslim relations.

'A dramatic story . . . any number of episodes could inspire novels . . . impossible to read without thinking of more current events.' – The New York Times

'A valuable and timely reminder . . . of that rare figure: a bridge between East and West.' – Times Literary Supplement

This well-researched and compelling biography of the Muslim warrior-saint who led the Algerian resistance to French colonisation in the mid-nineteenth century sheds light on current US involvement with a global Islam. The most famous 'jihadist' of his time, Abd el-Kader was known equally for his military brilliance and his moral authority. His New York Times obituary called him 'one of the few great men of the century.'