Arts of the City Victorious: Islamic Art and Architecture in Fatimid North Africa and Egypt

[...] there are here three books in one: a careful straightforward introduction to the art of the Fatimids; an appraisal of its worth from the perspective of Islamic art in general; and a judicious examination of various theories about its possible meaning. Not infrequently the scholar I consulted - whenever possible in the course of a lengthy chat - was Jonathan Bloom himself. [...] the possible influence of Ismailism - its doctrines and beliefs, rituals and ceremonies - on the objects known to be from the Fatimid period has nearly always eluded us despite assertions to the contrary by a few of our colleagues.