Harem »

Dora Levy Mossanen was born in Israel and moved to Iran when she was nine. At the onset of the Islamic revolution, she and her family fled to the United States. The recipient of the San Diego State University Editor's Choice award and the author of Harem, a widely acclaimed novel translated into numerous languages, Dora Levy Mossanen lives in Beverly Hills, California. She can be reached at www.doralevymossanen.com.

A seductive and intriguing journey from the humble Persian Jewish quarter to the fascinating world of shahs, soothsayers, eunuchs, and sultanas, Harem follows three generations of strong-willed and cunning women: Rebekah — a poor girl married to the abusive blacksmith, Jacob the fatherless — who emerges from her disastrous match with a mysterious brand between her breasts; Gold Dust, Rebekah's treasured daughter, who enters the opulent and perilous world of the harem and captivates the shah with her singing bones; and Gold Dust's daughter, the revered and feared albino princess Raven, who will one day rule the empire.

Rich in visual imagery, Harem vividly depicts the exotic bazaars and dangerous alleys of the city and palace chambers brimming with conspiracy and betrayal — as well as love and redemption. A skillfully crafted, intricately textured novel, Harem represents the beginning of a remarkable literary career.

Margaret Flanagan - Booklist

Mossanen's debut novel is a lush evocation of the mysteriously exotic world of the harem. As three generations of remarkable women struggle to achieve security, respect, and independence in a male-dominated culture, they must use the only means available to spirited females in ancient Persia. Abused by her brutish husband, Rebekah, a breathtakingly beautiful Jewess, dreams of a better life for her beloved daughter, Gold Dust. After tricking her husband into destroying himself, a penniless Rebekah becomes the most sought-after harlot in the thriving Jewish quarter. Securing a coveted position for Gold Dust in the shah's personal harem, she introduces her daughter to the intricacies and the perils of life in the palace. Threatened by her rivals after she becomes the shah's favorite, Gold Dust must protect herself and her strong-willed daughter, the albino princess, Raven.Bewitching and authentically detailed historical fiction chock full of passion, intrigue, and deceit.