Abderramán, el príncipe Omeya

by Anthony Fon Eisen

Abderramán, el príncipe omeya relata las aventuras que tuvo que vivir Abderramán tras los despiadados asesinatos cometidos contra los miembros de su dinastía, los Omeya, en el siglo VIII de nuestra era. Tras lograr escapar de esta barbarie, y puesta a precio su cabeza, en este libro se narra la tenaz y posterior persecución a la que fueron sometidos él y Saffana, su yegua; su romance con Alohra, una joven beduina del Wadi Zuran; y su relación con las zenatas y bereberes del desierto hasta hacer su triunfal entrada en España y su posterior asentamiento, como nuevo califa, en la ciudad de Córdoba.

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Anthony Theodore Fon Eisen retired from Heublein (food and liquor distributor) where he worked in quality control. He was the son of Nicholas and Ilona "Annie" (Balazs) Fon Eisen. Fon Eisen graduated from Wethersfield High School class of 1935 where he still held the broad jump record when he passed away at the age of 90. He and his wife, the former Marjorie Domick, are buried at Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Reviews

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up thinking it looked like it could be good or it could be one of those boring books they seemed to love in the 60's that never really goes anywhere. Happily, it did turn out to be a keeper! This book has a great plot and I really enjoyed not knowing what to expect next. The author kept it interesting and developed quite a few wonderful characters. I really liked how he would set up one little situation and get you all comfortable and the next thing you know that is all gone and he sets you up with a whole new situation as well as new characters. The prince has a fantastic journey that spans hundreds of miles and several deserts. I really enjoyed the fact that this book managed to be interesting and well paced without all the drama and teen angst that more recent authors can't seem to do without. A refreshing change that I thoroughly enjoyed.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it to be pretty good. Less of a young adult book than some of the other stuff I've read and enjoyed by Fon Eisen. Set in the Arabic world and the deserts of North Africa, and Spain.

[Mehmet Şükrü · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light novel based on the historical escape of Aburrahman I, the last surviving member of the once great Umayyad dynasty from Damascus after the Abbasid Revolt and to his rise of power as the first Sultan/Emir of Umayyad dynasty of al-Andalus in modern Spain.

The novel is a very nice page turner with likeable characters and great depictions of landscapes (mostly deserts), different people of the muslim world of the time from the Arabian peninsula to Egypt to Morocco and al-Andalus. It can be said that it is a very romanticized novel with very black/white characters.

One important issue here is besides the very key events (escape from Damascus, journey through north Africa, enthroning in Corboda), the novel deviates greatly from actual known facts and simply omits many key documented events/persons of the real like Abdurrahman I (e.g., death of his younger brother Yahya after their initial escape, him already having a son while on the run, his trusted Greek feedman Bedr assisting him through his journey, internal politics of al-Andalus and Aburrahman's clever maneuvering of the political environment).

So,
- if you are looking for a romanticized version of Aburrahman's escape and have a nice light novel, very good choice 4/5.
- if you are looking for a historial depiction of Abdurrahman's escape, rise to power, stay away 2/5.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book. I got it when the high school discarded books. I am cleaning out my shelves and picked this to see if I should keep it. It was so interesting! It was hard to put down.

[Ygor Gallina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked discovering the Maghreb and the Middle East through the journey of the Omeyya Prince.
I made a map showing the journey describe in the book, I couldn’t find some points and tried to find historical places.
https://umap.openstreetmap.fr/fr/map/...

[Austin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un roman inspiré d’une histoire vraie, rédigé dans un style biblique avec une écriture magnifique. On y est plongé en plein Moyen Âge, où une révolte éclate au royaume de la lignée des Omeyyades, visant à tous les éliminer. « Mais, lors de ce massacre impitoyable, un prince réussit à s’enfuir. Il s’appelait Abd al-Rahman, et il était le dernier des Omeyyades de Syrie ». Pisté, poursuivi et traqué partout où il fuit, le prince va entamer un véritable périple avec sa jument blanche Saffana, de Damas à Cordoue à travers l’interminable désert du Sahara.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my all-time favorites, and a Christmas present to boot! I first read this in Jr High; it's stayed with me ever since.