Book Review
Jul. 22nd, 2010 09:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kenjariThe Ruby in Her Navel
by Barry Unsworth
This novel is set in 12th century Sicily, a place where Christians, Jews, and Moslems have been co-existing in relative peace for decades under the the rule of the Norman king Roger II. The main character, Thurstan Beauchamp, is the protege of a Moselm minister, Yusuf, and works in one of the royal chanceries as a purveyor of entertainments and sometime spy and bearer of bribes. Despite the book's moderate length, the plot is quite complicated. Thurstan becomes involved in a treacherous web of court intrigue and courtly love while at the same time forging a bond with Nesrin, the youngest member of an Anatolian bellydancing troupe he has hired to entertain the king and his court. It's fascinating and emotionally involving.
Thurstan's character development is also crucial to the novel. He starts out idealistic and innocent in many ways. His path towards wisdom is costly and painful, but by the end he has arrived at an understanding of the nature of power, what is truly valuable to him, and the difference between real love and friendship and the illusion of them.
by Barry Unsworth
This novel is set in 12th century Sicily, a place where Christians, Jews, and Moslems have been co-existing in relative peace for decades under the the rule of the Norman king Roger II. The main character, Thurstan Beauchamp, is the protege of a Moselm minister, Yusuf, and works in one of the royal chanceries as a purveyor of entertainments and sometime spy and bearer of bribes. Despite the book's moderate length, the plot is quite complicated. Thurstan becomes involved in a treacherous web of court intrigue and courtly love while at the same time forging a bond with Nesrin, the youngest member of an Anatolian bellydancing troupe he has hired to entertain the king and his court. It's fascinating and emotionally involving.
Thurstan's character development is also crucial to the novel. He starts out idealistic and innocent in many ways. His path towards wisdom is costly and painful, but by the end he has arrived at an understanding of the nature of power, what is truly valuable to him, and the difference between real love and friendship and the illusion of them.
