In this thrilling quest set during the golden age of Islam, two very different boys set out on an adventure they’ll never forget…
The year is 798CE, and the two boys meet on a glittering caravan of officials and camels carrying spectacular gifts from the Caliph Harun-al-Rashid of Baghdad to the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. One of those exotic gifts is a young elephant called Abul Abbas.
Wealthy and spoilt fourteen-year-old Farouk from Damascus lost his father’s most valuable falcon. As a punishment, he is sent on the caravan to teach him more responsibility.
Bright thirteen-year-old orphan Hudayn lost his cleaning job at Baghdad Hospital after being unfairly treated. Being taken on the caravan is his chance at a better life.
The gruelling journey with its perils and excitement gradually brings them together, alongside the elephant, who is as apprehensive and far from home as the boys.
With sea storms and bandits at every turn, this journey of a lifetime requires all their courage and ingenuity, as Farouk and Hudayn are forced to put their differences aside to protect Abul Abbas and make it safely to the emperor’s court.
This is a retelling of a real historical event, with a timely message of friendship between East and West, Moslems and Christians, and the age old understanding that there’s more that unites us than divides us.
Read some sample pages, or order a copy at Bloomsbury.com
Also being carried on the journey is a precious and fragile water-clock. Tiny gold horsemen chime the hours. You can read about the drama surrounding the clock’s design in THE GOLDEN HORSEMEN OF BAGHDAD.
It’s described by Authors Electric as “a rich tale that brings the ancient city of Baghdad and its unfamiliar (to me) culture alive“
