Alhambra by Madeleine Polland, historical fiction for the #1970Club

In this juvenile historical novel by highly-regarded Irish author Madeleine Polland, a young boy who has lost everything clings to his Spanish heritage. Alhambra is my second book for the 1970 Club, hosted by Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings and Stuck in a Book. 

On a stormy night, brutal wind in the mountains is followed by an attack. Jacinta desperately tries to protect her six-year-old brother when Moors invade their home in Zahara de la Sierra in 1481. Her father has been bedridden for years so is quickly killed, sword in hand. The women and children, barefoot and frightened, are herded for six days to Granada, where the survivors will be sold as slaves. 

The Moors’ Nasrid kingdom extended over Granada, Almeria, Malaga and Cadiz during the 13th and 14th centuries. It paid protection money to the neighboring Christian kingdoms and managed to maintain peace with the countries of the peninsula. It thrived as a trading hub and King Alhamar started building the Alhambra in the middle of the 13th century. Its location was carefully chosen to show the might of the Nasrid dynasty so that it could be seen from virtually every part of Granada. The Alhambra is considered the eighth wonder of the world; it means "red castle" and is a dramatic citadel, palace, and fortress, attracting tourists from around the world.

Somehow, the siblings get separated from the other prisoners and wind up in a beautiful courtyard within the palace:

Now dazzled and bewildered, Jacinta and Juanito flitted through the brilliant courts as though it was Granada and not Zahara that had been ravaged by an enemy and left abandoned. They looked at each other now and then in silence as they had looked at each other on their dreadful journey. But it was in grave and speechless awe, as they darted from the shelter of tall pillars rising like trees to roofs of glittering color, as though the sun itself were moving round their domes; pushing past doors inlaid with shining gold and enamel bright as gems on which Jacinta barely dared to lay her hand; past cool green water, dark and smooth like silk; great fretted arches and long balustrades. And always the splendid silence was filled with the cool, soft sound of running water.

Jacinta and Juanito are lucky – everyone is too busy to notice they have strayed into the harem garden of the caliph’s favorite niece, Zorayama. She takes a liking to Jacinta, about her age, and protects them from being sent to slavery at the Barbary coast. Jacinta is old enough to recognize their good fortune but Juanito glares and declares he will never be a Moor because they killed his father! Jacinta becomes one of Zorayama’s ladies in waiting and Juanito is allowed to stay in the harem until he is ten, raised as a Moor as he plays with Nahid, a small girl who is a Moorish princess. Zorayama marries the new caliph, Boabdil, and helps Jacinta secure marriage to one of the caliph’s generals, which will provide for Juanito’s future as well. He resents her marriage to a Moor but enjoys being trained to be a soldier by his new brother-in-law. However, there comes a time when he is old enough to be expected to fight with the Moors and this is when Juanito follows his heart – he leaves the Moorish forces and makes his way through various dangers to the court of Ferdinand and Isabella, where he offers his sword and, more importantly, his knowledge of the Alhambra which will help the Spaniards invade and capture Granada in 1492.

This is a dramatic and interesting story from the opening scene, based on historical events, but I found it hard to warm to Juanito despite Polland’s always skilled writing. He seems so ungrateful to his sister for protecting him and to the Moors who gave him a home when the other Zahara prisoners become slaves. He and Nahid fall in love as children (I was reminded of The Far Pavilions, particularly when Boabdil plans a distasteful marriage for Nahid) and claiming her becomes almost as urgent a priority for Juanito as joining the Spanish army in its onslaught against the Moors. However, the romance was a bit sappy and it was annoying that he worried so much about Nahid and not about his sister.  At one point, he does reflect that the mighty strength of the Spanish forces would conquer Alhambra eventually, regardless of his involvement.

I did especially enjoy the depiction of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile, whose marriage in 1469 and joint rule united Spain. Of course, to American children, Isabella is best known for funding Columbus’ voyage to America. Ferdinand and Isabella’s fifth child, Catherine, married Prince Arthur of England and, after his death, his younger brother, who would become Henry VIII.

Title: Alhambra
Author: Madeleine Polland
Publication: Doubleday & Company, hardcover, 1970
Genre: Juvenile Historical Fiction
Setting: 15th century Spain
Source: Library. This came from Mansfield University, which is part of the state university system in Pennsylvania. It’s in the northern part of the state, near Corning, NY.

This is book 25 for Marg's Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2024.