Stealing from the Saracens – How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe

Published in August 2020 Diana Darke’s book “Stealing from the Saracens – How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe ” has won plaudits from many quarters.

‘An exhilarating, meticulously researched book that sheds light on centuries of borrowing, tracing the roots of Europe’s major buildings.’ — The Guardian

‘Another brilliant challenge to Islamophobes everywhere, skilfully telling the architectural counterpart of Moller’s tale, and showing how much Gothic architecture drew on the forms and innovations of Arab architects and mathematicians.’ — William Dalrymple in The Spectator (Book of the Year 2020)

Diana Darke is an Arabist and cultural expert who has lived and worked in the Middle East for over thirty years. She is the author of Stealing from the Saracens – How Islamic Architecture Shaped Europe, The Merchant of Syria: A History of Survival, and My House in Damascus: An Inside View of the Syrian Crisis. She tweets as @dianadarke.

The talk will last 45 minutes with 15 minutes for questions, and half an hour for refreshments after the talk in the church during which time Diana will stay on to sign copies of her book and mingle with attendees.

Car parking will be in the grass field adjacent to the church, weather permitting.