The enchantress of Florence - bookrastinating.com

355 pages

English language

Published Feb. 24, 2009 by Random House Trade Paperbacks.

ISBN:: 978-0-679-64051-6

(1 review)

A tall, yellow-haired young European traveller calling himself "Mogor dell'Amore," the Mughal of Love, arrives at the court of the real Grand Mughal, the Emperor Akbar, with a tale to tell that begins to obsess the whole imperial capital. The stranger claims to be the child of a lost Mughal princess, the youngest sister of Akbar's grandfather Babar: Qara Köz, 'Lady Black Eyes', a great beauty believed to possess powers of enchantment and sorcery, who is taken captive first by an Uzbeg warlord, then by the Shah of Persia, and finally becomes the lover of a certain Argalia, a Florentine soldier of fortune, commander of the armies of the Ottoman Sultan. When Argalia returns home with his Mughal mistress the city is mesmerised by her presence, and much trouble ensues. But is Mogor's story true? And if so, then what happened to the lost princess? And if he's a liar, …

A tall, yellow-haired young European traveller calling himself "Mogor dell'Amore," the Mughal of Love, arrives at the court of the real Grand Mughal, the Emperor Akbar, with a tale to tell that begins to obsess the whole imperial capital. The stranger claims to be the child of a lost Mughal princess, the youngest sister of Akbar's grandfather Babar: Qara Köz, 'Lady Black Eyes', a great beauty believed to possess powers of enchantment and sorcery, who is taken captive first by an Uzbeg warlord, then by the Shah of Persia, and finally becomes the lover of a certain Argalia, a Florentine soldier of fortune, commander of the armies of the Ottoman Sultan. When Argalia returns home with his Mughal mistress the city is mesmerised by her presence, and much trouble ensues. But is Mogor's story true? And if so, then what happened to the lost princess? And if he's a liar, must he die?--From publisher description.

10 editions

Zoran B. reviewed The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie

Review of 'The Enchantress of Florence' on 'Goodreads'

3 stars

This is a literary version of Salvador Dali's painting in which everything is possible: dreams mix with history, facts with fiction and fairy tales all distorted through the unique viewing glass of the storyteller. It is told in a voice that makes the reader believe, or at least want to believe in the story. If you like myths and tales of love, sorcery and enchantment from the past, you'll find it here.

Subjects

Women -- Mogul Empire -- Fiction
Women -- Italy -- Florence -- Fiction
Mogul Empire -- Kings and rulers -- Fiction
Mogul Empire -- Social conditions -- Fiction
Florence (Italy) -- Social conditions -- Fiction