Gliding seamlessly between the nineteenth-century Ottoman Empire and modern-day Paris, this sweeping novel from the former Waterstones Children’s Book Prize nominee is an evocative and captivating read.
It is August in Paris and budding art historian Khayyam should be having the time of her life - but even in the City of Lights she can't stop worrying about the mess she left back home in Chicago. Only when she meets a cute young Parisian - who happens to be a distant relative of the novelist Alexandre Dumas - do things start to get interesting, as she starts to unveil the story of a 19th century Muslim woman whose path may have intersected with Dumas, Eugene Delacroix and Lord Byron.
Two hundred years earlier in the Ottoman empire, Leila is the most favoured woman in the Pasha's harem. Her position is meant to be coveted; but she is struggling to survive as she fights to keep her true love hidden from her jealous captor.
Echoing across centuries, as Khayyam uncovers the scintillating truth of Leila's long-forgotten life, her own destiny is transformed forever.
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
ISBN: 9780349003559
Number of pages: 336
Weight: 233 g
Dimensions: 196 x 126 x 26 mm
A smart feminist holiday read, asking questions about whose voices are honoured by history - Guardian
The inventive Ahmed returns with a brilliant novel about race, history and choosing your own history - The i
Ahmed's brilliant novel shows that the familiar journey of being smart, in love, and a little lost is as profound now as it was in the 19th century. Add in a romance in the hidden gardens of Paris and an explosive trove of lost historical letters from a woman almost forgotten and you've got a fresh, thoughtful joyride that you'll want to read with every woman and girl you know
Ahmed tackles weighty issues with thoughtfulness and flair. I was completely swept away
Rich, emotional and inspirational. Samira Ahmed does it again with a work of art that reads like an anthem for the voices silenced throughout history, and a call to raise our own. Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know is a deeply thought-provoking, immersive love story to the hidden histories that dwell within us-and like any good story, it will live in your heart for years to come
Ahmed explores weighty themes including Orientalism, women silenced by history, and the responsibility of sharing their unheard voices . . . An entertaining tale that will appeal most to fans of art history and literature - Kirkus Reviews
Ahmed pulls readers into a picturesque Parisian setting that brings the mellifluous language and customs to life, which makes a perfect backdrop for an art mystery . . . With a determination to give voice to a woman whose story has been erased from the pages of history, Ahmed offers yet another well-wrought and dynamic novel - Booklist
Mad Bad and Dangerous to Know by Samira Ahmed was a unique, lyrical and wonderful story of two women who wish to write their own stories despite the odds and how their lives intertwine. I was blown away by this... More
Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is two distinct and beautifully written stories. One, set in modern day France, follows a young woman struggling with her identity whilst attempting to solve a centuries old mystery. The... More
This beautifully written quest novel follows Kyayyam and Alexandre as they try to discover who 'The lady with raven tresses' is and find her in a lost Delacroix portrait.
Kyayyam describes herself as...
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