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.
"Elegant. Rich with myth, history, politics, fantasy and life intermingled--as if the voice of an Isabel Allende of Persia has emerged."--Amy Ephron
"A richly imagined feminist fable--a feast for the senses."--Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, author of A Woman of Independent Means
"Dora Levy Mossanen's fist novel, Harem, is truly astonishing."--Robert Hellenga, author of The Sixteen Pleasures and Blues Lessons
"Harem reads like a wondrous cross between Colette and Sir Richard F. Burton. The dark lights and vivid tableaux Ms. Mossanen conjures stay with you long afterward. A very impressive, and adventurous, debut."--Nicholas Christopher, author of Franklin Flyer
