"Recent events have, more than ever, brought the Shiites to world wide attention. This book is a brief general history of all the Shiite groups from their common origin to the present day."--BOOK JACKET. "The individual branches of Shiism are discussed with a close look at their special dogmatic and organisational development. Special attention is given to the emergence of the Imamite 'clergy' and the social and political role which has enabled them to establish a revolutionary regime in Iran. Each chapter contains an invaluable bibliography giving easy access to other books and original sources in translation."--BOOK JACKET. "This book is the only comprehensive survey of all the Shiite groups from their beginnings to their current status in the modern world."--BOOK JACKET.