Sir KAC Creswell was an architectural historian and draftsman who while in the military during WW1 was stationed in Egypt. He created THE most formidable collection of photos, architectural drawings and library (some 3000 books)., for a subject that had not been previously written about. From this vast undertaking of drawing and writing about the monuments, he wrote many books this one included, and is considered to be STILL the foremost work of the field. He taught at both Cairo University and The American University in Cairo. Upon his death, his enormous library and drawing etc were left to the American University who created the Creswell Library (protected by the late formidable librarian Madam Karnouk). His Photographic negatives and plates etc was left to the Ashmolean in Oxford University England. This book and all others is a MUST read for anyone considering fields in Islamic art and architecture, Islamic history and archeology. It is a very precise documentation of the field