Author Description

This is an account of the life and leisure of Walid II, medieval Islamic Caliph and heir apparent who contributed to the fall of the Umayyad dynasty. Setting his study of Walid's career and fortunes against the backdrop of the Caliph's country resort, discovered at Khirbat al-Mafjar in theJordan Valley, Hamilton finds many of Walid's personal eccentricities reflected in the architecture of the resort itself. The book is enhanced by many new line drawings and photographs.