Matthew Pierce is Assistant Professor of Religion at Centre College.
[A] compelling study of the imams of Ali’s line.
*Times Literary Supplement*
Pierce’s scholarship is impressive…[He] expertly takes us through
these stories [of the imams], examining themes like suffering,
memory, gender, political power, and theology…A lovely book that
does much to teach us about Islam, its many traditions, and the
ways in which memory functions in the lives of its followers.
*Reading Religion*
Forgoing some well-worn topics, Pierce adds a fresh perspective by
peering at the Imams’ biographies through the lens of gender. In
fact, Pierce is at his best when he engages in questions of
gender…Twelve Infallible Men is a well-written analysis of the
stories that have been told and retold about the Imams…This book is
sure to spark valuable discussion.
*Journal of Islamic Studies*
Pierce provides a clearly articulated and stimulating reading of an
understudied but fascinating and historically significant body of
writings.
*American Historical Review*
An exemplary work on a hitherto understudied yet highly significant
topic. Pierce succeeds admirably in making these biographies speak
to central concerns in the contemporary study of Shiˀism in
particular and of Islam in general. He writes with ease and
precision, and is especially effective at using collective memory
to document the formation of communal boundaries and expressions of
piety. This compact and accessible work will go a long way towards
offering a robust understanding of a major religious
phenomenon.
*Ahmet Karamustafa, University of Maryland*
A successful book that singles out a number of the most influential
themes related to the portrayal of the imams and treats them with
considerable insight.
*Devin Stewart, Emory University*
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