This historical romantic novel is set at the time of Saladin, the great religious reformer, mythical leader and unifier of an Islamic world in disarray by political and social contradictions at the beginning of the twelfth century. Princess Sittalmulk, "The Lady of the Realm" is the beautiful and strong-willed sister to the weak Fatimid Caliph al-'Adid in Cairo. She has many suitors: Saladin has been persuaded that his political ambitions would be enhanced by a union with the caliph's sister. Such is also the case for the ruthless and ambitious Hasan who claims Fatimid ancestry and wants to...