Crucible of Light: Islam and the forging of Europe from the 8th to the 21st Century

‘Absolutely fascinating. At a time when ahistorical Christian Nationalism and chauvinism are gaining ground, this book arrives as an essential corrective. Muslim culture and the ideas of Isla are one of many global influences that have shaped the European imagination and way of life and Drasyson illuminates that tale with rigorous scholarship and captivating prose.’ Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK and author of Secularism: a Very Short Introduction.

Rethinking the history of the last thirteen centuries, in Crucible of Light, Elizabeth Drayson pulls together the epic interwoven history of the Muslim and Christian worlds.

Focusing on major turning points, individual stories and key places, from Mecca to Cordoba, from Damascus to Venice, and from Vienna to Istanbul, Drayson tracks the themes that unite us – classical learning preserved in Islamic libraries, the enduring influence of Moorish architecture and design, the food we share, the goods we have traded and the continuing dialogue between individuals and cultures that has permeated Europe’s history and shaped its borders.

It is a history that sweeps across cities and continents, from Spanish patios and palaces to Ottoman-inspired coffee houses in 17th century London, to the Mezquita in Cordoba, once a mosque, now a cathedral, the physical embodiment of the ongoing discourse that continues to shape European identity.

© 2025 Picador (Audiobook): 9781035008667

Release date

Audiobook: 25 September 2025