The book however does give a tantalising glimpse of how a strong ruler can enable the respectful co-existence of different cultures and religions. Buy The Ruby in Her Navel Reprint by Unsworth, Barry (ISBN: 9780525435259) from Amazon's Book Store. "—Jim Crace Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. About The Ruby in Her Navel. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Barry Unsworth is a joy to read. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. I couldn't believe it, so went on to read it myself and found it a delightful book full of insights to the time period that I had never encountered before. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The story is set in 12th century Sicily and is centered on the Christianization of the Norman kingdom of Sicily under King Roger II. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. His writing is lyrical, sensitive, intelligent and perceptive. Barry Unsworth is a joy to read. His writing is lyrical, sensitive, intelligent and perceptive. AMAZON BARNES & NOBLE GET WEEKLY BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Email Address Subscribe Tweet. But his real focus is on his own quest for success and love. A lot of writers get details about Arabic or Islam wrong, but Unsworth has clearly done his work, as in Rage of the Vulture (which I found much inferior to this) or Pascali's Island. Adelaide del Vasto, mother of Roger II, was a woman ahead of her time. Very stylized form of writing; like it had been penned in the 1920's. We still struggle to maintain and expand our cultural supremacy with wishfully shaped notions, and Unsworth seems to be giving Nesrin words intended as a warning for our modern ears. This is an entertaining story involving political intrigue, religious rivalry, foreign espionage, all occurring in Sicily in approximately 1135. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. Sadly, the central story was not strong enough to capture the imagination. My son recommended this book to me. Thurstan Beauchamp, the Christian son of a Norman knight, works for Yusuf, a Muslim Arab, in the palace's central finance … Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. That is straining things too far. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. The climactic scene has a decidedly cinematic, thriller-like feel to it, and it's refreshing to finally see Thurstan taking action. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. Everyday low prices on a huge range of new releases and classic fiction. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Unable to add item to List. Please try your request again later. The protagonist is unsympathetic but that is the only negative in this novel. His subtle grasp of both the Norman and Muslim cultures is impressive. I totally agree with the Muslim reviewer that there is an echo of the Iraq war here. The kingdom of Sicily is gripped in religious and political intrigue as differing factions vie for supremacy. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. During his journeys, he encounters the woman he loved as a youth; and the renewed promise of her love, as well as the mysterious presence of an itinerant dancing girl, sends him on a spiritual odyssey that forces him to question the nature of his ambition and the folly of uncritical reverence for authority. Known for his loyalty but divided between the ideals of chivalry and the harsh political realities of his tumultuous times, Thurstan is dispatched to uncover the conspiracies brewing against his king. A huge fan of Unsworth, his story telling and excellent research, I was much looking forward to a story set amongst the cultural diversity of 12th C Sicily. More By and About This Author. by Barry Unsworth. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. The Ruby in Her Navel Barry Unsworth Penguin, 336 pp., £7.99 Paperback. Doubleday/Talese $26 (416p) ISBN 978-0-385-50963-3. His latest, The Ruby in Her Navel, is subtitled A Novel of Love and Intrigue Set in the 12th Century, and -- lest you be misled by the provocative title -- the operative word is novel. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Reviewed by David Anthony Durham Copyright 2006, The Washington Post. Thurstan Beauchamp,… To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Barry Unsworth's prose is superb and the setting fascinating. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. The royal coffers are full. The Ruby in Her Navel. By Richard Mason. Thurstan Beauchamp, the Christian son of a Norman knight, works for Yusuf, a Muslim Arab, in the palace's central finance office, a job which … After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. OTHER BOOKS. Here is well written historical fiction by an author in command of his creative abilities and his craft. The Ruby in her Navel by Barry Unsworth Belly-dancers and other beautiful birds. There was an error retrieving your Wish Lists. Everybody -- even his beloved Alicia -- takes advantage of him. I agree with another reviewer that he does perhaps allow the story to ramble a little (albeit elegantly) before really getting under way. Something went wrong. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. Please try again. There was a problem loading your book clubs. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Very stylized form of writing; like it had been penned in the 1920's. His writing is lyrical, sensitive, intelligent and perceptive. This is a great story, set in medieval Sicily... the era so beautifully brought to life.. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 4, 2008. Doubleday/Talese $26 (416p) ISBN 978-0-385-50963-3. Thurstan manages to shake off his self-pity long enough to grapple with the situation he helped create. by Barry Unsworth. EMBED (for wordpress.com hosted blogs and archive.org item tags) Want more? It helps us understand our own contemporary world; a rare achievement. A lot of writers get details about Arabic or Islam wrong, but Unsworth has clearly done his work, as in Rage of the Vulture (which I found much inferior to this) or Pascali's Island. Unsworth is a much underrated writer. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. The air daily fills with Muslim calls to prayer and the tolling of monastery bells. Who knew twelfth century Sicilian history and politics could be so interesting! Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2006. "If we do not break the bad shape, it will break us.". Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2013. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. BUY NOW FROM. The Norman King Roger oversees a multicultural society in which Christian, Muslim, Jew, Latin and Greek coexist in an uneasy truce. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2013. The protagonist is unsympathetic but that is the only negative in this novel. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. The novel's strongest suit is that the convoluted plot lends suspense right up to the final pages. Unsworth sets us down in a brilliantly realized society, a But at least he pulls you in from the start. Do a young man's hopes to claim a knighthood stand a chance when ambitious men are all too ready to sacrifice others' desires for their own plots and goals? You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The Ruby in Her Navel. The Ruby in Her Navel: Amazon.co.uk: Unsworth, Barry: 9780241142202: Books Also, when it does speed up at the end of the novel, the intrigue becomes so complex that it (nearly) defies understanding...Hence, regretfully, the 4 star rating. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Who knew twelfth century Sicilian history and politics could be so interesting! Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2018. Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video! Advanced embedding details, examples, and help! He has a knack for making the past seem authentic in its historical detail while injecting his tales with lessons relevant to our contemporary struggles. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 7, 2013. "Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. That's the case once again in The Ruby in Her Navel. BARRY UNSWORTH won the Booker Prize for his novel Sacred Hunger. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. By: Barry Unsworth. Rules and how to enter The Booker Prize and The International Booker Prize Submissions Unsworth's subtle prose conjures up an authentically realized medieval world in which one's nationality and religion overshadow everything, and peace is only an illusion. It is 1149, and all is not well in Norman Sicily. A story of intrigue and passion, it delivers many moments of pleasure for the reader - unfortunately, it's a little too 19th century-like in its long, overwrought descriptions and one would wish for the action to speed up. This is Barry Unsworth, the master of resonant historical fiction, on top form. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. How does this moment change Thurstan? I loved it. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. This is the second Unsworth book I've read and both have left me wanting more. Thurstan Beauchamp, a Norman Christian, works at the government office overseeing finances, accounting, and bribes. The novel opens in Palermo, in which Latin and Greek, Arab and Jew live together in precarious harmony. I found a booklet -'Mosaics of Sicily' (available on Amazon) - that helped me imagine the mosaics described in the book. Intrigue, shadowy meetings, surprise encounters, covert missions, all keep the plot moving forward quickly. I read it in no time and in the process learned a little bit about a epoch I didn't have a clue about it. In 1149, Norman-born King Roger rules Sicily with a healthy mixture of tolerance and skepticism. His 15th novel, The Ruby in Her Navel, takes readers to a 12th-century Mediterranean pulsing with political, religious and racial tensions. A story of intrigue and passion, it delivers many moments of pleasure for the reader - unfortunately, it's a little too 19th century-like in its long, overwrought descriptions and one would wish for the action to speed up. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2021, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. That is straining things too far. I totally agree with the Muslim reviewer that there is an echo of the Iraq war here. I like it very much. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. I read it in no time and in the process learned a little bit about a epoch I didn't have a clue about it. He chafes against the fact that he has been denied what he sees as his rightful station in life. THE RUBY IN HER NAVEL. All Rights Reserved. Set in the Middle Ages during the brief yet glittering rule of the Norman kings, The Ruby in Her Navel is a tale in which the conflicts of the past portend the present. At the same time King Roger is having problems with the Pope and has worries about possible invasion or treason from within. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Ruby in Her Navel, The [Barry Unsworth, Andrew Sachs] on Amazon.com. The Ruby in Her Navel Barry Unsworth Penguin, 336 pp., £7.99 Paperback. But the details, though they add to the atmosphere, are less important than the mood he creates. . Why, when Thurstan finally sees the King’s visage, does his sight fail him? Please try again. Strange thing is -- and it's one of Unsworth's strengths -- those foibles, crimes and moral dilemmas seem a lot like what we're up to in the present moment. Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2019. But the peace and prosperity of the kingdom is being threatened, internally as well as externally. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. He's also carnally drawn to a young dancer, Nesrin, who gives the book its title. Sadly, the central story was not strong enough to capture the imagination. Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2014. Verified Purchase. But what of Nesrin, the Anatolian belly dancer who stirs his lust? The Ruby in Her Navel: A Novel of Love and Intrigue in the 12th Century, Nan A. Talese; First Edition (October 17, 2006). If one had the misfortune to be born in the 12th century, then Sicily was … Categories: Literature & Fiction , Genre Fiction. He is also the author of The Songs of the Kings, Losing Nelson, After Hannibal, and the international bestseller Morality Play. With his attention thus aroused and divided, he stumbles his way into -- and plays a part in -- a murderous plot that puts his mentor's and his king's lives in danger. The Ruby in Her Navel: A Novel by Barry Unsworth About the Book?Set in the mid-12th century, in the years following the disastrous Second Crusade, this ambitious, meticulously researched novel . Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. To get the free app, enter your mobile phone number. The ruby in her navel : a novel of love and intrigue in the twelfth cenury Item Preview > remove-circle Share or Embed This Item. 4. It's a while since I read it, but I still have a vivid sense of the world Unsworth conjures up. He is so focused on advancement and so blind to the machinations of those around him that he becomes a pawn, used again and again for objectives he claims to find odious. My son recommended this book to me. Not a strong story line, but the scene-setting is tantalising, Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 25, 2016. You keep to it, nothing can change you." I didn't mind the prelibations, since they kept me guessing all along. But that's OK as it gives a certain atmosphere to the narrative. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Finance office, since they kept me guessing all along understand our own contemporary world a. Found a booklet -'Mosaics of Sicily under King Roger is having problems with Muslim... First published in 2006 January 17, 2017 which Christian, Muslim, Jew, Latin and,. Calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don ’ t a! 10, 2009 writing is lyrical, sensitive the ruby in her navel intelligent and perceptive,... 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