The Hand of Fatima by Ildefonso Falcones

This book isn’t for the faint hearted – there are many graphic scenes of rape and violence. It was frustrating and gripping in almost equal measure! I would frequently struggle through 20 pages, abandon the book for a week or two and then try again, only to be caught up in a new plot thread that captured my heart and hurtled me through another 70 pages….where I would then stall again. The pace was often painfully slow, as many side stories were weaved into the main narrative. They could not leave Moriscos on the road, so all the fit men had to help those who were not well or even carry the corpses, as there was not a single cart for them. They covered the same distance as on the first day, but this time uphill, feeling the cold of the mountains penetrating their rain-soaked clothes until it seeped into their very bones. I also found that having a Spanish map available was helpful, as without knowing the geography it was difficult to know the distances involved for each journey.Īt daybreak, they began to climb to Moclin, where a commanding fortress defended the entrance to the plains and the city of Granada. I knew nothing about this period of history, but a basic knowledge is assumed and so I found that I had to research some sections in order to understand what was happening. This book is massive in terms of both length and scope. Having mixed blood Hernando finds it difficult to be loyal to either side and through strong friendships with those from both religions he tries to bring peace to the region.

The book is narrated by Hernando, the son of an Arab woman who was raped by a Christian priest. It has taken me over six months to complete this 970 page epic. The book gives a detailed history of 16th century Spain, revealing the horrific violence that took place in Grenada when the oppressed Christians battled against the Arabic Moors. Translated from the Spanish by Nick Caistorįive words from the blurb: Christian, oppression, Moors, Arab, conflict

The Hand of Fatima by Ildefonso Falcones