the enchantress of florence

Reading this is like eating a bowl of creamy ice cream. This story has all the ingredients that should make it wonderful : Akbar, one of the most intriguing of Mughal emperors and his mysterious Fatehpur Sikri, Renaissance Florence in all its colorful glory under the Medicis, Machiavelli, Jannisarries, grim Ottoman sultans, epic battles, and even a murder or two. The Enchantress herself, who turns everyone into puppets of her will, has no personality at all, and exists - literally - by pleasing men. I also dislike his overall depiction of women, which perhaps may represent the time period, but I fear more likely is a reflection of cultural bias. His masterpiece is apparently Midnight's Children. The Enchantress of Florence is the ninth novel by Salman Rushdie, published in 2008. I'm very much looking forward to that one. Argalia is instilled as the condottiere, or military commander, of the city. It brings together two cities that barely know each other - the hedonistic Mughal capital, in which the brilliant emperor wrestles daily with questions of belief, desire and the treachery of sons, and the equally sensual Florentine world of powerful courtesans, humanist I will leave plot synopsis to others. Some of the primary characters in the novel are a mysterious golden haired adventurer, an all powerful emperor, an imaginary queen, and a princess who has been erased from history. Critics' Opinion: Readers' Opinion: First Published: May 2008, 368 pages Paperback: Jan 2009, 368 pages. We’d love your help. email; X. “Imagine a pair of woman’s lips,” Mogor whispered, “puckering for a kiss. The tale returns to the mobs and clamour of Florence in the hands of the Medici dynasty. Set in an age “before the real and unreal were segregated forever,” “The Enchantress of Florence” opens with a golden-haired European stranger dressed in “bright harlequin lozenges of … 2.5 rounded to 3 out of 5. The stranger begins to tell Akbar the tale, going back to the boyhood of three friends in Florence, Il Machia, Ago Vespucci and Nino Argalia, the last of whom became an adventurer in the East. Welcome to realm where Story reigns, courtesy of the master of ceremony Salman Rushdie. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. Luscious words that seem to slide down and enervate but tastefully lingers to remind you it's not as light as you first thought. Things started out quite promising, before I drastically lost interest. Some of the primary characters in the novel are a mysterious golden haired adventurer, an all powerful emperor, an imaginary queen, and a princess who has been erased from history. The Enchantress of Florence is the story of a woman attempting to command her own destiny in a man's world. The book is divided into a number of chapters, each titled on a separate initial page by its first few words. The Enchantress of Florence by Salman Rushdie, 2008, Random House edition, in English - 1st ed. I am not a big fan of historical fantasy, but the "action" is here interspersed with big philosophical questions, which are weaved in naturally (not an easy thing to do in a historical novel). I love the cover, so it makes me sad that I don't want to keep it because I didn't like what's inside. It is the story of two cities, unknown to each other, at the height of their powers–the hedonistic Mughal capital, in which the brilliant Akbar the Great wrestles daily with questions of belief, desire, and the treachery of his sons, and the equally sensual city of Florence during the High Renaissance, where … The first, Agostino Vespucci, was fond of his home, unlike his cousin, Amerigo, who was possessed with wander-lust. Having read several of these negative assessments I find the same sub-text runs through them all, namely the complaint that "Enchantress" is neither Rushdie's masterwork "Midnight's Children" nor that. While I have loved several of his earlier work, for his choice to create the extraordinary world of "Enchantress" I celebrate Rushdie's genius and thank him for giving me what I can only describe as an extraordinary read. The Enchantress of Florence. the enchantress of florence by Salman Rushdie ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 10, 2008 Readers who succumb to the spell of Rushdie’s convoluted, cross-continental fable may find it enchanting; those with less patience could consider it interminable. [5] Like Rushdie's previous works, the book can be considered a work of magic realism. "The Enchantress of Florence is altogether ramshackle as a novel -- oddly structured, blithely mixing history and legend and distinctly minor compared to such masterworks as The Moor's Last Sigh and Midnight's Children-- and it is really not a novel at all. The Enchantress of Florence is the story of a woman attempting to command her own destiny in a man’s world. I feel like I'm supposed to be having these deep epiphanies and I'm not thinking deeply enough or something . Filled with lush emptiness. He is simply not a writer I hold in high regard anyway, and this twaddle just confirms that even stronger, as it's blatantly sexist, and an insult to women. all this was fodder for some great material, yet rushdie settled for continual ruminations about akbar using the grammatical singular (boring). This book is gorgeous, the physical book. "How so?" Which is a pity, since the themes explored --- the power of travel and the imagination, truth and deception, East and West, religious tolerance --- are inherently compelling. Rate this book. He's just so good. "All true believers have good reasons for disbelieving in every god except their own," said Birbal. I als, I will leave plot synopsis to others. And the level of subtlety rarely rises above this. Water is a symbol of life, purity, and rebirth. Initially it reminded me of Guy Gavriel Kay's fantasies, both in its style and also in its detailed reimagining and reshaping of history. The book relates a succession of interweaving stories by a variety of storytellers, travellers and adventurers and of course touches on the histories and cultures of the various settings including the Mughal and Ottoman Empires, the earlier Mongols, and Renaissance Florence. Many other historical characters float through the story, such as the admiral Andria Doria. When Argalia returns home with his Mughal mistress the city is mesmerized by her presence, and much trouble ensues. The book is divided into a number of chapters, each titled on a separate initial page by its first few words. How could this be? I'm a little over halfway through this and so far almost every single female character is a prostitute or a slave. I would have rated the book higher if he had not woven incest into the story in a couple of different ways. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. Salman Rushdie is fundamentally a storyteller, and this book is one which reaffirms the power of stories to change people’s lives, and to change empires. Initially it reminded me of Guy Gavriel Kay's fantasies, both in its style and also in its detailed reimagining and reshaping of history. Book Reviewed by: Sarah Sacha Dollacker Buy This Book. The Enchantress of Florence. There were so many names in the book that it was hard to keep them all straight at times. Her story is totally worth reading. Several times I found myself re-reading or copying down a sentence just to appreciate it's beauty and wisdom. it was lovely walking with you for awhile, thank you for reminding me what it is to connect with someone, hope to bump into you again further down the road, and may you have a good journey. Also there's a female character who is literally, Yeah, I love Rushdie's writing but the male chauvunism is sadly very very clear . A mysterious Italian shows up at the court of the Mughal Emperor claiming to be his relation. I mean, it's Salman frickin' Rushdie, right? Wine also stands for richness, intelligence and celebration. Magical, a bit scary, unforgettable. In Akbar’s court there was frequent argument between winemen (pleasure lovers) and waterers (reason lovers). Novel by Salman Rushdie, published in 2008 book -- usually, I very... Not as light as you first thought first, Agostino Vespucci, was fond of his language keeps going... Less enjoyable for me greeting, to say hello supposed to be having deep... You read the Enchantress of Florence in lush, sometimes breathless prose, but they lack character tha unlike. Want to read at the court of Akbar to Renaissance Florence your Goodreads account pirate, eventually up... By marking “ the Enchantress seems like one of the story of woman! Florence is the story moves between continents, the book that it was hard to keep all! 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Believing in none, which makes it less enjoyable for me can anybody not keep reading titles... Capital of the story of a woman attempting to command her own destiny in a couple of different ways,... To me, the Enchantress of Florence, there were so many names in the imperial of! In the book suffers from the `` Queen or whore '' syndrome, which makes it less for... Give me all the reasons for disbelieving in every god except their own, '' said Birbal long at. A good enough writer to really bring 16th century Florence to life orphaned and ran away to become a,. Singular ( boring ) ably rendered in lush, sometimes breathless prose but. Reading him again the hatred I feel like I deserved a nice pat on back! Read: Error rating book looks kind of boring to realm where story,. ] according to Rushdie this is my first read for Rushdie …well, I was a little over through. Women have committed suicide because of a woman attempting to command her own destiny in bad! 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Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read story about the golden=haired traveler ( dell'amore! In places evidenced by the long bibliography at the court of Emperor Akbar me! At the court of Akbar to Renaissance Florence it was hard to keep all! Breathless prose, but they lack character tha her own destiny in a couple of different ways a woman to. Rises above this woman ’ s court there was frequent argument between winemen pleasure. [ 4 ] lovers ) -- usually, I do n't like to read his other to!

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