Two historical novels addressing Spain’s internal conflicts: the first, set in Granada, takes us back 500 years to the last Muslim Court; the second, set mostly in London, begins eighty years ago with the International Brigades and resistance to Franco. Both weave a thread of hope for humanity with a romantic storyline – or two.
 |  |
Court of Lions by Jane Johnson
For the past year, Kate Fordham has worked in a bar in the beautiful Spanish city of Granada. But her boss’s racism is far from beautiful, as she tries to exclude Muslims and Arabs from the premises. Why does Kate put up with it? Perhaps her lack of assertion stems from the dreadful experiences that led her to hide in the city, under an assumed name and carrying a passport in a different name altogether.
Five centuries earlier, Blessings is court companion to Prince Abu Abdullah Mohammed in the Alhambra Palace. For a slave, his life isn’t so bad, except that he daren’t admit he loves the prince as more than a loyal subject or friend. As the prince assumes the adult responsibilities of marriage, and the defence of the Muslim territories against the encroachment of Christianity, and the machinations of Ferdinand and Isabella, Blessings finds himself sorely tested.
The two threads intertwine with Kate’s discovery of a scrap of paper bearing an unfamiliar script in the walls of the Alhambra. Her curiosity leads her to the Muslims of the city, specifically those of Berber and Tuareg heritage, amongst whom she finds the warm welcome she desperately needs, after her marriage to an abusive psychopath.
Having visited Granada several times, I was drawn to this novel by its setting. With elements of romance and psychological suspense, I particularly appreciated Court of Lions for its refreshingly non-Christian centred history of the fall of Granada. Although not quite as ignorant as Kate claimed to be, I also appreciated the foray into Berber culture from someone (being married to a Berber) with the authority to write about it. Thanks to Head of Zeus for my review copy.
Five centuries earlier, Blessings is court companion to Prince Abu Abdullah Mohammed in the Alhambra Palace. For a slave, his life isn’t so bad, except that he daren’t admit he loves the prince as more than a loyal subject or friend. As the prince assumes the adult responsibilities of marriage, and the defence of the Muslim territories against the encroachment of Christianity, and the machinations of Ferdinand and Isabella, Blessings finds himself sorely tested.
The two threads intertwine with Kate’s discovery of a scrap of paper bearing an unfamiliar script in the walls of the Alhambra. Her curiosity leads her to the Muslims of the city, specifically those of Berber and Tuareg heritage, amongst whom she finds the warm welcome she desperately needs, after her marriage to an abusive psychopath.
Having visited Granada several times, I was drawn to this novel by its setting. With elements of romance and psychological suspense, I particularly appreciated Court of Lions for its refreshingly non-Christian centred history of the fall of Granada. Although not quite as ignorant as Kate claimed to be, I also appreciated the foray into Berber culture from someone (being married to a Berber) with the authority to write about it. Thanks to Head of Zeus for my review copy.
Spanish Crossings by John Simmons
London 1937 and Lorna Starling is a little nervous about attending a political meeting in wealthy Hampstead. But perhaps not as nervous as the evening’s speaker, Harry James, witness to the destruction of Guernica. The two young people slip away to the pub, and from there to bed, but theirs is to be a short-lived affair. Despite – or perhaps because of – not knowing each other, they believe themselves in love but when Harry leaves for Spain that afternoon they never meet again.
Lorna lends her support to the Basque Children’s Community, set up to assist the 4000 refugee children given shelter in Britain while their parents are resisting the fascists. She befriends fifteen-year-old Pepe, showing him around London until he slips away from the authorities only to show up six years later to declare his love. Although at heart a pacifist, Lorna is committed to the war and persuades Pepe to sign up. When he returns, they marry and have a child, although Lorna can never completely count on his loyalty to his English family.
I enjoyed this for the history, especially regarding the evacuation of the Basque children which I hadn’t known about until it was touched on in The Winterlings. I also found the ending poignant, where Pepe takes his family to a French town on the border with Spain. But I think the novel would have been stronger if it were about a third shorter. Thanks to Urbane Publications for my review copy.
Lorna lends her support to the Basque Children’s Community, set up to assist the 4000 refugee children given shelter in Britain while their parents are resisting the fascists. She befriends fifteen-year-old Pepe, showing him around London until he slips away from the authorities only to show up six years later to declare his love. Although at heart a pacifist, Lorna is committed to the war and persuades Pepe to sign up. When he returns, they marry and have a child, although Lorna can never completely count on his loyalty to his English family.
I enjoyed this for the history, especially regarding the evacuation of the Basque children which I hadn’t known about until it was touched on in The Winterlings. I also found the ending poignant, where Pepe takes his family to a French town on the border with Spain. But I think the novel would have been stronger if it were about a third shorter. Thanks to Urbane Publications for my review copy.
RSS Feed
