Granada A Novel

[Stayce Cawthorn]

Theevents of the first novel take place upon the fall of the Nasrid Emirate of Granada, the last Islamic kingdom in medieval Iberia. The novel begins with descriptions of Muslim life in Granada, with focus on the work of binding and preserving Islamic educational books. As the Emirate of Granada is conquered by the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, and the Spanish Inquisition intensifies, the characters are forced to progressively hide or abandon elements of their life as Muslims. Several characters introduced in Granada inter-marry, and the following novels follow the course of their descendants' lives. [2]

Several editions of the novel were published. The first edition was published by Dar Al-Hilal Publishing in two volumes between 1994 and 1995. The second edition was published by the Arab Institute for Research & Publishing in 1998. The third edition was published by Dar El-Shorouk Publishing in 2001. The fourth edition was a special edition exclusive to Al-Usra Library, and it was published by Dar El-Shorouk in 2004. Finally, the fifth edition was also published by Dar El-Shorouk in 2005.[3]

Works in Abu Jaafar's shop in Al-Warraqin Neighbourhood. A strong friendship forms between him and Saad due to working and living together at the shop. After Abu Jaafar's death, he moves to work at Eskafi's shop, who is a shoemaker.

As the new rulers of Granada confiscate books and officials burn the collected volumes, Abu Jaafur quietly moves his rich library out of town. Persecuted Muslims fight to form an independent government, but increasing economic and cultural pressures on the Arabs of Spain and Christian rulers culminate in forcing Christian conversions and Muslim uprisings.

Radwa Ashour is an Egyptian novelist, critic, and professor of English literature at Ain Shams University in Egypt. She has written several novels and short stories; the trilogy of which Granada forms the first part was named Best Book of the Year by the General Egyptian Book Organization in 1994.

William Granara is a translator, writer, and professor of Arabic at Harvard University, where he also directs the Arabic language program. He formerly served as the executive director of the Center for Arabic Study at the American University in Cairo and as director of the Arabic Field School of the U.S. Department of State in Tunis, Tunisia.

This book had been recommended to me by several people who love Spain. This was written I expected a light romantic novel set in Granada, Spain. As I live in Granada this was of particular interest to me as the novel begins in the city.

The beginning of the book, (up to page 100) starts off gently. The main characters, Sonia and Maggie, are jetting off to Granada to get away from it all. They want to dance in Spanish studios on a short course, as well as taking a break in the city. This was more or less what I was expecting. I imagined this book would give detailed descriptions of the cobbled Granada streets, explanations of the customs of the locals and lots of vibrant flamenco imagery. I was quite content to read this undemanding tale.

As the story develops we follow a new character, the passionate dancer Mercedes, a young girl in Andalusia at the time the war begins. The tale takes us to different parts of Spain, the places that were important in Spanish Civil War history. Almost all of Andalusia is mentioned Malaga, Granada, Almeria, but we also have Madrid, Murcia, Barcelona and Bilbao featuring in the book.

I live in Granada, the city in which the Hand of Fatima begins. I have also spent many months living in the beautiful Valley of Lecrin which also appears repeatedly throughout the book. The setting of the novel coincides with areas that I know well myself, it almost seems as though the author is following my movements, choosing familiar locations to me for his next book.

By reading the Hand of Fatima I hoped to discover more about the historic Alpujarra wars and read well written descriptions of the Alpujarra villages, conjure up mental images of the Sierra Nevada, reading about all those familiar places. I expected to hear about the city of Granada how it was during the era of Al-Andalus many hundreds of years ago and even learn a few facts which I had not yet heard previously. The book certainly met my expectations.

The well researched work cleverly blends historic fact and geographical references. It carefully describes local landmarks as well as telling an interesting tale to the reader. Even with 8 years knowledge of Andalusian culture I got swept away by the authors writing and forget to notice which parts of the book are hard facts and which parts are the fictional storylines embroidered into the novel.

When studying A Level Spanish many years ago I read Lazarillo de Tormes by Francisco de Quevedo. This is a classic Spanish novella from 1554. As I read the Hand of Fatima the atmosphere that it conjured up reminded me of the tricks and treachery in Lazarillo of Tormes as well as the street scenes described.

Set in Granada in the year 1564, Christians and Moors are at arms. The clash of cultures causes many scenes of torture, blood and brutality. Both sides suffer gruesome punishments throughout the book, the Catholics are severely attacked when the Moors are rampaging through the mountain villages in the Alpujarra at the beginning of the story. Soon the tables are turned and the failed Moorish revolt upturns their fortunes, the Moors then find themselves are at the mercy of the harsh Christian rulers.

Hernando the main character is a Moorish boy, son of a Christian father. With has deep olive skin and big blue eyes, causing internal conflict for him and doubt, making others around him doubt his faith. He has a lot of mishaps and fights along the way but every now and again those sparkly blue eyes come good. Learning to adapt quickly in tricky situations, such as being confronted by the Christians or even challenged by his own people.

The book is not only about the Alpujarra wars, violence and cruelty; there is a romantic storyline through the narration. The main character Hernando is romantically involved with the captivating Fatima with her dark hazel eyes and exotic beauty. Their relationship goes through many difficulties and separations. Against all odds they both try to maintain their partnership in spite of fierce opposition from family and pressure from the society in which they live in.

In the Cathedral of the Sea I found it fascinating. Especially as while reading the novel I could take notes and visit some of the landmarks in Barcelona. The same occurs with the Hand of Fatima, the descriptions of Granada, Cordoba and the Alpujarra allow the steps of the characters in the story to be retraced; being able to walk along the same roads described and touch the same walls that we read about really appeals to the reader.

The novel winds its way through many different areas of Granada province and Southern Spain. Most of the Alpujarran villages are mentioned, Valor, Ugijar, Juviles and Los Berchules. There are terrible battles described near to the town of El Padul, South of Granada, we discover the areas of the valley of Lecrin such as Beznar, Tablate and Mondujar. Granada and its historic buildings of course are mentioned often throughout the course of the novel, the Royal Chancillery or the Alhambra fortress both feature as well as other buildings.

I actually read the book with a detailed map of Spain next to me. So I could follow the story along the map whilst I turned the pages. Hernandos mule La Vieja was certainly a patient and hard working animal! They cover miles and miles of dusty roads and hilly paths through the book.

Further along in the story we are transported to Adra, Almeria, along the Sierra Morena and eastwards to historic Cordoba. Some parts of the story are set in Algiers and different towns of Morocco. For any Spain enthusiast or anyone interested even slightly interested in European history it certainly is a recommendable read.

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Based in Andalusia and passionate about the Mediterranean lifestyle, historic sites and Spanish food, Molly began writing about Spain in 2011. Living like a local in Granada since 1998, she is fluent in Spanish and here she shares her travel tips and recommendations. Molly also personally designs travel itineraries for your in and around Spain. She also runs food tours in Andalusia sharing insight into the local food culture in Granada, Seville and Malaga.

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The novel follows the family of Abu Jaafar the bookbinder-his wife, widowed daughter-in-law, her two children, and his two apprentices-as they witness Christopher Columbus and his entourage in a triumphant parade featuring exotic plants, animals, human captives from the New World. Embedded in the narrative is the preparation for the marriage of Saad, one of the apprentices, and Saleema, Abu Jaafar's granddaughter-which is elegantly revealed in a number of parallel scenes.

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