The Secret Order of Assassins : The Struggle of the Early Nizârî Ismâî'lîs against the Islamic World

Remains the most complete history of the Assassins. Beginning the story with the separation of Sunnis and Shi'ites and the rise of Isma'ilism, an offshoot of Shi'ism, Hodgson traces the long and complex history of power struggles within Islam that led ultimately to the separation of the Nizari Isma'ilis and their direct challenge to Muslim leadership.