Samarkand

Starts in 11'th century Samarkand. The main character is Omar Khayyam, the mathematician, astronomer, and poet. Other important characters are interesting historical figures such as Nizam-al Mulk, Hassan Sabbah, Alp Arslan, Melikshah, Tugrul and Tschagri Begs, etc... Then jumps to 19'th cty, where Jamaleddin Afgani, an Iranian princess, Abdul Hamid enter... Very interesting, very nicely written, although the author sometimes makes statements about historical anecdotes as if they are proven (whatever that means in history) facts. Also, the author seems to have an anti-Turkish, almost racist attitude.