The Enchantress of Florence: A Novel

By  Salman Rushdie

Having only read Midnight's Children, I'm in no position to attempt to rank The Enchantress of Florence among Salman Rushdie's other works. I can only describe my reaction to Rushdie's latest offering.

The Enchantress is an old-fashioned adventure. Weaving together romance and action, intrigue and cinematic grandeur, Rushdie draws his readers into a vivid world of exotic empires and historic wonders where the rules that apply to mere mortals become fluid. The power of great men and women to create by sheer force of will and the power of a story to change a listener drive the novel.

Rushdie's prose is, as always, a pleasure to read. He works his favorite milieu, the intersection of East and West, to drive home the point that it is not man's differences that cause conflict, but his sameness. 'East and West' is enriched by a study of rulers and the ruled but the most thought provoking aspect of the novel is the examinations of men and women and how each gender achieves power.

Despite an abundance of parallel story lines, the narrative is easily followed. The tiny amount of confusion and fuzziness that cling to the edges of the story only add to the mystical feel of the novel.

Having lived in Italy for a time, I found the portions of the novel set in Florence to be especially vivid. I walked the streets that the character walked. I knew the history around which Rushdie wrapped his story. This, I think, really brought that portion of The Enchantress to life. While certainly not a book that requires an encyclopedia to get through, a basic grasp of the period helps the reader see many of the more subtle points Rushdie is making. I feel that I undoubtedly missed some of Rushdie's observations when the action moved to Akbar's court.

In the end, The Enchantress' greatest asset is the deep richness of the world that Rushdie's novel inhabits. It has all the best astributes of old studio blockbusters - sweeping scope, fantastic settings, stunning vistas, exotic locals - and a wonderful interior story, beautiful language, and fascinating characters.