Editors Reads Verdict
A sweeping epic of 16th-century Andalusia — the expulsion of the Moors, the Inquisition, and one man's impossible attempt to bridge two worlds. As richly detailed as The Cathedral of the Sea.
What We Loved
- Extraordinarily detailed historical research
- The Moorish Andalusia is beautifully rendered
- A genuinely moving story of identity under persecution
Minor Drawbacks
- Very long — requires commitment
- Some readers find the pace slow in the first third
Key Takeaways
- → The expulsion of the Moors and the destruction of Al-Andalus
- → The Inquisition's assault on converso communities
- → Identity under impossible pressure to choose sides
| Author | Ildefonso Falcones |
|---|---|
| Publisher | New American Library |
| Pages | 768 |
| Published | January 1, 2009 |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical Fiction |
| Difficulty | Intermediate |
| Best For | Readers of The Cathedral of the Sea and historical fiction set in medieval/early modern Spain |
Hernando is born in the Alpujarras mountains of Andalusia in the 1560s, the product of rape — his mother is a Muslim Morisco, his father a Christian priest. In a Spain that is systematically expelling its Moorish population, Hernando belongs to neither world and is claimed by both. As the Morisco revolt is crushed and his community is scattered, he finds himself in Córdoba, where the great mosque of his ancestors has become a Christian cathedral.
The Hand of Fatima is Ildefonso Falcones’s second novel, and it has the same qualities that made The Cathedral of the Sea a global bestseller: meticulous historical research, an immersive setting, and a protagonist whose story illuminates a historical catastrophe from the inside. The Moorish Andalusia Falcones renders — the language, the culture, the architecture, the religious practice, the daily texture of Morisco life — is rendered with exceptional care.
The novel traces Hernando’s attempt to secretly preserve the legacy of his people — copying out the Koran, hiding manuscripts, maintaining practices that could cost him his life — as the Inquisition tightens its grip. It is a story about cultural survival, about what we are willing to risk to preserve what we love, and about the Spain that was lost when the Moors were expelled.
Reading Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
What is "The Hand of Fatima" about?
In 16th-century Andalusia, a Moorish boy named Hernando is born to a Christian father who rapes his Muslim mother. Caught between two worlds and two faiths, he tries to preserve the legacy of the Moors as Spain expels them.
Who should read "The Hand of Fatima"?
Readers of The Cathedral of the Sea and historical fiction set in medieval/early modern Spain
What are the key takeaways from "The Hand of Fatima"?
The expulsion of the Moors and the destruction of Al-Andalus The Inquisition's assault on converso communities Identity under impossible pressure to choose sides
Is "The Hand of Fatima" worth reading?
A sweeping epic of 16th-century Andalusia — the expulsion of the Moors, the Inquisition, and one man's impossible attempt to bridge two worlds. As richly detailed as The Cathedral of the Sea.
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