David AlexanderMasterpieces of Islamic Arms and Armor: In the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Fashion Studies)

Most interesting, should be in every collectors bookcase.

Although I ordered this book via Amazon Germany (amazon.de), I got it from Amazon UK.I can say it is a big book illustrating some magnificent and unique weapons. But other than being a nice eye candy, this book leaves quite a lot to be desired. First, the book seems rather focused on the armor, while leaving some very important examples of Islamic blades completely not mentioned. And I am not referring to some very exotic and rare types of blades but to the very well known Indonesian Keris and Caucasian Kindjal. Moreover, the book is definitely quite far from being considered a reference as it avoids using specific technical terms and sometimes even uses generic terms erroneously. For example, all curved blade swords are called "saber" whether it is a Persian Shamshir (page 182), an Ottoman Kilij (page 161) or an Indian Tulwar (page 184). It goes as far as calling "dagger" an archetipal single edged Persian Kard (page 222). It also uses the generic and rather inaccurate term "crucible steel" for describing Wootz.Overall, the book certainly looks beautiful but it sounds like being written by the museum's photographer, and not by a reputed authority in the field of Islamic arms.