Granada
Swirling imagery of a bygone era illuminates this epic story of the waning days of Muslim power in 16th-century Spain through the experiences of one family. It begins with a bookseller, Abu Jaafar, witnessing the surrender of Granada in 1492 to the Catholic monarchs, which is then followed by book burnings, forced religious conversions, deportations, and punishments for not following the new decrees. Life becomes fraught for all Muslims with especial peril for his granddaughter Salima, who secretly studies and practices Arabic medicine. The rich sights, sounds, and smells of Arab Granada are commemorated in vivid descriptions of the colors of flowers, the trilling of women, and the scents of herbs and cooking oils as their lives change in dramatic and often violent ways.
For four succeeding generations of this family, daily life plays out in cycles of fear and terror, but it also includes no small measure of hope as well. Maryama, widow of the bookseller’s grandson, and Ari, her own orphaned grandson, carry the family story forward through the 1500s. They both experience people marrying, babies being born, craftsmen working, and farmers cultivating crops. However, they also experience forced expulsions, diminishing knowledge of the Arabic language, and ongoing calls for rebellion. Despair and betrayal grow; hope flickers. Eight centuries of Arab culture in Spain end with a massive deportation of the remaining Arabs to North Africa in 1609.
This book is a lament for a lost culture, brought to life by characters with all their human foibles and graces in a time of extreme upheaval. Highly recommended for any reader seeking a deeper understanding of Arab culture past and present through powerfully emotional and moving family stories.
