Artful and intelligent … . Kaplan’s book has made its own mark… I am able to feel the sense of an exotic and timeless part of the world.
– Bob Hoover, Pittsburg Post-Gazette
[Kaplan] helps the distant past resonate today… . [He] teaches lessons that are informative and concise. - The Washington Post Book World
A writer of extraordinary intellect and passion … with a wonderfully lucid way of relating history as a living thing. - San Francisco Chronicle
Erudite and intrepid… . [Kaplan] is a deft guide to wherever he chooses to lead you. - The New York Times