The Walking Drum by Louis Lamour

Just got done reading it for the second time. The first time was about three years ago. Its definitely one of my favorite books. Its by far Louis Lamour's best piece of work, and its the best historical novel I've ever read.

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The Walking Drum is a novel by American author Louis L'Amour. Unlike most of his other novels, it is not set in the American West, but is a historical novel set in 12th century Europe and the Middle East.
The main character of the story is Mathurin Kerbouchard. In the course of the story he goes around from city to city looking for his father and assumes the roles of slave, pirate, scholar, physician, merchant, alchemist and lover. Kerbouchard becomes a seeker of knowledge and fortune on a journey of challenge, danger and revenge.
Along his long journey the main character is thrust into the heart of the treacheries, passions, violence and dazzling wonders of a magnificent time. From castle to slave galley, from sword-racked battlefields to a princess's secret chamber, and ultimately, to the impregnable fortress of the Valley of the Assassins in the heart of Persia.
The book is named for a merchant caravan's marching drum, first described in chapter 36: We often sang as we marched, and there was always the sound of the walking drum, a sound I shall hear all my life, so deeply is it imbedded in the fibers of my being... The book is filled throughout with this theme of travel to far lands, as epitomized by the marching of a merchant caravan.

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This could be a great movie.