This authoritative book traces the history and doctrinal development of the Isma'ili movement from its origins to the present day, a period of twelve centuries. It is the first comprehensive synthesis of the scattered results of modern scholarship on the subject and it draws on numerous primary and secondary texts, and particularly a number of private Isma'ili manuscripts that have recently become available. All the major phases of Isma'ili history are covered. From the pre-Fatimid period, Dr. D...