In this book Franco Cardini examines the ideas, prejudices, disinformation and anti-information that have formed and coloured Europe's attitude towards Islam over 1500 years.

Franco Cardini is Professor of Medieval History at the University of Florence. he previously taught at the universities of Florence and Bari as well as in Paris, Gottingen, Vienna, Madrid, Barcelona, Turku, Boston, Burlington, Sao Paulo, Jerusalem and Damascus. His publications include Gerusalemme d'oro di rame di luce (1992), Studio sulla storia e sull'idea di crociata (1993), Medioevo al femminile (with F. Bertini, M. T. Fumagalli Beonio Brocchiri and C. Leonardi, 1992). He also edited Constanza la strega di San Miniato (1989).