The Enchantress of Florence

The Enchantress of Florence A Novel

Presents the story of a woman attempting to command her own destiny in a man's world. This book brings together two cities that barely know each other - the hedonistic Mughal capital, in which the emperor wrestles daily with questions of belief, desire and the treachery of sons, and the equally sensual Florentine world of powerful courtesans.
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Reviews

Photo of Simon Harding
Simon Harding@simmyh
5 stars
Jun 5, 2024

Rushdie didn't let me down with this novel, though once more the book commanded my full attention. The way he crafts his sentences, the way he takes deliberate sidetracks during his storytelling like a rambling comedian, all combine to demand total concentration at all times. Try reading this book with your kids around and you'll have no idea what is going on! But how lucky I was to have the time to read this glorious story. Above all, he created the delightful Qara Koz, a woman who even now that I've finished, I find myself pining after. This story has it all, and once more, Rushdie shows his mastery of the craft. The Enchantress of Florence is one of the greatest, most rewarding novels I have ever read. I'm so glad I read more Rushdie after the disappointment of The Satanic Verses.

Photo of Prashanth Srivatsa
Prashanth Srivatsa@prashanthsrivatsa
3 stars
Feb 2, 2023

There was never any doubt in Rushdie's ability to weave magic and realism together, an art descended from the likes of Garcia Marquez and churned to fit into the Mughal Indian period. Similarities aside, The Enchantress of Florence is delicious in its language, a host of characters dancing to Rushdie's tune, but never really managing to make you empathise with their terrible ambitions.

Photo of James Haliburton
James Haliburton@jdhberlin
4 stars
Jan 11, 2022

Wonderful, sprawling fairy tale - bawdy and beautiful . . . Rushdie effortlessy moves through time and across continents with his usal finely-tuned eye for luxurious imagery.

Photo of Trevor Berrett
Trevor Berrett@mookse
2 stars
Nov 10, 2021

Not a high recommendation here. The first part is fantastic - I loved it. But after the first 100 pages, the life got sucked out of the book! For my complete review: http://mookse.wordpress.com/2008/08/0...

Photo of Brishti Basu
Brishti Basu@brish_ti
5 stars
Jul 5, 2024
Photo of Tarannum Kamlani
Tarannum Kamlani@tarannumsaurus
3 stars
Jul 4, 2024
Photo of Betul M.
Betul M.@betulmozcan
4 stars
Jan 2, 2024
Photo of Cat Josephson
Cat Josephson@themorrigan12
3 stars
Mar 1, 2023
Photo of Mrigank
Mrigank@mrigoo
3 stars
Jan 25, 2023
Photo of Yuvraj Jha
Yuvraj Jha@yuvraj
5 stars
Oct 21, 2022
Photo of Daniel Lauzon
Daniel Lauzon@daneroo
4 stars
Sep 5, 2022
Photo of Ture Strange Nilsson
Ture Strange Nilsson@ture
3 stars
Aug 12, 2022
Photo of Riah Forbes
Riah Forbes @riah
3 stars
Jun 23, 2022
Photo of Gwen Chodur
Gwen Chodur@gwenchodur
4 stars
Dec 23, 2021
Photo of Cindy
Cindy@cindypepper
4 stars
Oct 20, 2021
Photo of Neha Kirpalani
Neha Kirpalani@nehakirpalani
4 stars
Aug 30, 2021
Photo of Casper Oppenhuis de Jong
Casper Oppenhuis de Jong@casperodj
2 stars
Aug 12, 2021

Highlights

Photo of Bhavya Sharma
Bhavya Sharma@bhavya

Alessandra had long ago perfected the art of seeing only what she wanted to see, which was an essential accomplishment if you wanted to be one of the world's masters and not it's victim.

Page 190
Photo of Bhavya Sharma
Bhavya Sharma@bhavya

One must stand outside the circle to see that it is round.

Page 100