Meshed with literature and historical reality, The History of Moors in Spain: From the Islamic Conquest until the Fall of Kingdom of Granada by British orientalist-historian Stanley Lane-Poole deftly portrays the periodic history of Spain in which Visigoths, Jews, Moors, Moriscos and Christians play their own rule and reign. ‘People of Andalusia’ with a coming and passing time witnessed ‘Wave of Conquest’ in the name of ‘Holy War’. Hope and despair were their paradoxical destiny.
This book by Lane-Poole is regarded as a reliable source for the study of Moorish Spain. It has been published by different agencies with a little bit of each-other-differing titles. The book was first released in 1886 with the title The Story of the Moors in Spain. With a new version of higher digital formatting and readability access, it was published with the aforementioned title in 2018 by Mosaicum Books. Fitted in 14 historical consecutive chapters with an unbiased analysis and criticism the author unfolds a story of Spain synchronously occurring in every event of ascent and descent.
As Lane-Poole has initially asserted in his preface, Spain has a hidden history of ‘melancholy contrast’. Wrapped and raged with agony of precluding state for growth, empowerment and development, the land after Gibraltar welcomed the Muslim flock of Berbers and Arabs. The historic span of ‘nearly eight centuries’ from Tarik to Boabdil in Spain, ignoring some factors of retrogression, marked as ‘a shining example of a civilised and enlightened State’ excelling over Europe. With full acknowledgment and pleasure, the author has admitted, “Whatsoever makes a kingdom great and prosperous, whatever tends to refinement and civilization, was found in Moslem Spain.”
Now again, the boon turned with bane: “The Moors were banished; for a while Christian Spain shone, like the moon, with a borrowed light; then came the eclipse, and in that darkness Spain has grovelled ever since.”
The history of Spain was told in its own language. The author has made readers see the Spanish lands like the Guadalquivir NS Guadiana, watch the magnificence of architectures like Alhambra and feel the folk songs of praise and condemn from common Spaniards. Thus, history was witnessed with unfailing curiosity. However, an abundance of characters with less description may give some readers a puzzling comprehension. That may be the paradoxical and contrasting taste of Andalusian history.