Granada
The Complete Trilogy
Radwa Ashour author Kay Heikkinen translator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:American University in Cairo Press
Published:5th Nov '24
Should be back in stock very soon
A multigenerational epic set at the collapse of Muslim rule in Medieval Spain, both “a page turner” and “rich and evocative” (Booklist), available now for the first time in a new, complete translation
A TOP 100 LITERARY WORK OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY (THE ARAB WRITERS UNION)
A BOOK RIOT BEST BOOK OF 2024
A multigenerational epic set at the collapse of Muslim rule in Medieval Spain, available now for the first time in a new, complete translation
It is 1492, and the keys to Granada, the last Muslim state in the Spanish Peninsula, have been handed over to the Christian king and queen: the final vestiges of this Arab kingdom in Europe are swept away.
As the triumphant new masters of Granada burn books, Abu Jaafar, a bookseller by trade, quietly moves his rich library out of town, while preparing for the marriage of his granddaughter Saleema to his apprentice Saad. The tangled lives of Abu Jaafar’s family, his descendants, and his community bear witness to the vanquishing of Muslim life: confiscations, forced conversions, and expulsions.
Radwa Ashour’s sweeping trilogy, set over one hundred years against the backdrop of the great historical events of sixteenth-century Europe, tells the story of those who remained in Andalusia, of the individuals who struggled to maintain faith and hope in a possible future. It narrates a community’s effort to comprehend what has happened to them, of their valiant but ultimately unsuccessful efforts to resist the destruction of their identity.
Named a top literary work of the twentieth century by the Arab Writers’ Union, Granada is now available in English in its entirety for the first time. All three novels—Granada, Maryama and The Departure—are brilliantly retranslated in this outstanding new paperback edition.
NAMED A TOP 100 LITERARY WORK OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY BY THE ARAB WRITERS UNION AND A BEST BOOK OF 2024 BY BOOK RIOT
“A magnum opus of prose fiction, Granada can take its place in the long tradition of Arabic elegy, of laments for ruins and lost loves.”—Marina Warner, author of Once Upon a Time, from the foreword
"An exceptional book. . . . It is a testament to what a truth-seeking individual, like Radwa Ashour, can accomplish as the novel rollicks through revelations of hidden lives, suppressed truths, and inhumane atrocities."—ArabLit
"Ashour’s trilogy is a must-read for fans of historical fiction, multigenerational tales, and stories of displacement and survival."—Book Riot
“There’s much to like about Kay Heikkinen’s new translation of Radwa Ashour’s Granada trilogy, from the timeless appeal of a multigenerational saga to the way these stories reflect a seismic moment in the region’s history. In showing how various characters reckon with questions of assimilation and social control, Ashour’s trilogy meticulously shows a status quo slowly disintegrating.”—Words Without Borders
"Radwa Ashour’s Granada evocatively transports readers to the Andalus with expertly woven layers of story, emotion, and kinship. What a privilege for the English-speaking world to finally be able to read in full this seminal trilogy, so long a book of conversation and connection for Arab readers. That it comes at a time when another nation of Arabs are facing censorship, brutal persecution, and extermination only adds to its poignancy. A feast, a balm, and a heartache."—Ruqaya Izzidien, author of The Watermelon Boys
"A monumental accomplishment. The eloquence and excitement of Radwa Ashour's trilogy is brought to life in lucid and beautiful prose by Kay Heikkinen."—Mohamad Ballan, Stony Brook University
"[An] absolute must-read. For anyone interested in Muslim life in Spain, or anyone visiting Granada . . . because it’s astounding historical fiction, but truly for anyone who loves a good multigenerational novel. . . . Populated by bold, subversive female protagonists and a poetic narrative about the pain and suffering of seeing your culture be suppressed and erased. . . . simply excellent."—Leah Rachel, While Reading and Walking
“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. . . . Highly recommended for any reader seeking a deeper understanding of Arab culture past and present through powerfully emotional and moving family stories.” —Historical Novels Review
PRAISE FOR RADWA ASHOUR:
"Radwa Ashour was a powerful voice among Egyptian writers of the postwar generation and a writer of exceptional integrity and courage."—The Guardian
“An important writer whose exemplary work we need more of in English”—The Independent
“Ashour writes beautifully, balancing her own talent for evocative.”—India Stoughton, The Daily Star
“One of the most influential writers in Arab region”—Egypt Independent
ISBN: 9781649033765
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
486 pages