Le torri di Granada

by Geoffrey Trease

Il giovane Robin, scacciato dal suo villaggio inglese perchè ritenuto un lebbroso, viene curato in segreto da un medico ebreo, fino a quando è chiamato a corte da Sua Maestà la Regina in persona. A Robin viene affidata una missione segreta: la ricerca della misteriosa Essenza d'Oro, l'unica medicina in grado di alleviare la malattia di Sua Maestà. Eccolo allora attraversare la Spagna in una avventura eccitante. Incontrerà malvagi frati, perfidi alchimisti, saggi saraceni e sapienti ebrei. In uno spaccato di vita del 1200, Robin viaggia con i suoi compagni nel rispetto delle usanze religiose di ognuno. Combattendo di astuzia e di spada, porterà a termine la missione e riscatterà la sua dignità di giovane inglese? Età di lettura: da 10 anni.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Spain, Young Adult, Fiction

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1966

About the author

Robert Geoffrey Trease (1909-1998) was a prolific writer, publishing 113 books between 1934 (Bows Against the Barons) and 1997 (Cloak for a Spy). His work has been translated into 20 languages. His grandfather was a historian, and was one of the main influences towards Trease's work.

He is best known for writing children's historical novels, whose content reflects his insistence on historically correct backgrounds, which he meticulously researched. However, with his ground-breaking study Tales Out of School (1949), he was also a pioneer of the idea that children's literature should be a serious subject for study and debate. When he began his career, his radical viewpoint was a change from the conventional and often jingoistic tone of most children's literature of the time, and he was one of the first authors who deliberately set out to appeal to both boys and girls and to feature strong leading characters of both sexes.

Reviews

[Mary Herceg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as Geoffrey Trease's Word to Caesar or Victory at Valmy, by any means, and this didn't make it on to my favorites list. But The Red Towers of Granada was still a very good book, and I enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to reading more by Trease.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A young man inaccurately diagnosed with leprosy, a Jewish family exiled in Spain, a Queen, and the mysterious Elixir of Health all combine to make a grand tale set during King Edward the first's reign.
Two thumbs up, and a new author to look for in bookshops!

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent juvenile historical that provides a broad range of information. We start in England in 1290 and see how leprosy was handled (or mishandled), then soon after, Robin, our young hero, encounters Solomon, a Jewish doctor. Activity increases when King Edward I expels all Jews from England and, at the same time, Queen Eleanor privately requests the aid of Solomon. This involves travel to Spain (via France), and soon there is intrigue and action as the party is pursued by enemies. Everything builds to a thrilling climax, and we get a largely satisfying resolution.

Over the course of the book, readers learn a bit about Christians, Muslims, and Jews and how they interacted in different parts of Europe in the Middle Ages, and they get some descriptions of notable places such as the Alhambra, Cordova, Toledo, and Nottingham. There is even a little bit of romance. At times Trease may be a bit overly optimistic about interfaith relations, but there are also less than sunny examples too.

While some young listeners were at the time actively studying the period described, others were focused on WWII - it was instructive to make the connections between the treatment of Jews in the two periods (not to mention the present, alas).

Trease is expert at writing highly engaging stories with ideal chapter length and the cliffhangers that young readers/listeners love. He also drops little references and creates opportunities for teaching that are wonderful (though apparently he includes a debunked etymology of Charing Cross).

I wasn't crazy about the illustrations by Charles Keeping - a bit too abstract.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great and rather unusual adventure story.

[Sigrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Granada with the Alhambra and the Generalife is one of my favorite places to visit and I've been there three times. I fell in love with them when we took a unit on Spain in high school. When I noticed that Trease had written a book that included these as well as Toledo and Cordoba, I knew I had to read it.

Of course, the book is focused on the story being told about a young Oxford scholar being "diagnosed" with leprosy and thrown out of his community. He soon meets a family of Jews, father, son and daughter. He warns them away from him, though he believes he just has a rash, not leprosy. The father turns out to be a doctor who confirms the diagnosis of rash and supplied him with medicine for it. Unfortunately, there is no way that he can be "rehabilitated" to return to his studies. The doctor, Solomon invites him to join his family as they return to Spain with a wish from Queen Eleanor, who is unwell. Solomon had helped her before with an Elixir which requires ingredients from Spain.

The rest of the story describes their adventures on their sea voyage and in Spain with some surprises. We learn quite a bit of life in the 13th C.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite interesting throughout,worth a read.

[Emtee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Published in 1966 and set in the late 13th century, this is nevertheless a tale for our times.

A young scholar, Robin, is cast out from his community after being maliciously misdiagnosed with leprosy. Offered sanctuary by an elderly Jewish physician, Robin is soon on a desperate mission to save the life of the Queen (smitten by some mysterious, wasting disease). It is an adventure that will take him, along with Solomon’s son, David and a young muslim warrior, Yusuf, deep into Moorish Spain.
Meanwhile, Edward the first’s notorious expulsion of the Jews is already underway.
Will they find the ‘Golden Elixir’ in time to save her Majesty? And what has become of David’s father and his sister, Susannah in their absence?

As ever, Trease’s story-telling is founded on a secure knowledge of the period. This is a marvellous tale, all the better for the cross-faith friendships that develop along the way.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book by chance at a donation bookswap on the Oxford canal, on the basis of the evocative line drawings. Good rollicking read! For young people aged 9-13 I'd say. The slim volume takes in 16th Century Sherwood Forest, Jewish ghettoes, the royal castle of Nottingham, sailing ships, golden age Castile and Moorish Granada, with some dodgy monks, swashbuckling horse galloping and a couple of love stories thrown in as well. Written in 1966 - definitely written in an internationalist spirit

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have had this book since Hertfordshire library sold it off for 10p, 50 odd years ago. I read a lot of historical fiction as a child. The illustrations of this book are by Charles Keeping who also did Alan Garner's 'Elidor' - very imaginative and modern - I found them disturbing as a child and preferred the more comfortable illustrations (by Christine Price) in the viking sagas of Henry Treece. Now I find Charles Keeping's pictures fascinating.

Plus a half star. The story is very well written and very relevant, describing movements and connections across Europe of both individuals and the forced movement of people during the reign of Edward I. The narrator is a youth from a rural village but being educated at Cambridge. His voice doesn't quite work for me - a strange mix of modern and 13th century - but a good tale.

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy meets up with a Jewish family in 13th century England and for plot reasons goes with them to Spain. The bad guys who follow them are properly awful, and our hero gets away from them using ingenuity and luck. Nice feel for the snowy mountains of northern Spain as well as Cordova and Grenada.

[Doodles McC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, I loved this historical story, set in England in 1290 as a teen. Illustrated by Charles Keeping. It shows how leprosy was or mishandled. y/A. ........ Robin, a young scholar of medieval England, accused of having leprosy, is denounced by the church and community. He is befriended by Solomon, a Jewish physician, who cures his skin disorder. King Edward I expels all Jews from England and, at the same time, Queen Eleanor privately requests the aid of Solomon and the two friends embark upon a mysterious mission for her. This involves travel to Spain (via France), and soon there is intrigue and action as the party is pursued by enemies.