Customer Reviews

The Angel with One Hundred Wings: A Tale from the Arabian Nights

5 star:		(8)
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3 star:		(1)
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The story was captivating and the characters were so well developed that you could sympathize with all of them. It is written with such beautiful prose that any chapter, page or paragraph can be taken out of context and enjoyed on its own. I am recommending this book to all of my friends and I eagerly await Horch's next work.

I really love this book. It is amazing how Horch gets inside the head of his protagonist- so convincing and moving. The love story and the fascinating historical context really make this a gem. I highly reccomend this book. I also think it would make a great movie...

In the ninth century in the City of Peace (Baghdad for ye unfaithful) elderly alchemist Abulhassan is confronted with a dilemma. A confidant of his chess partner and best friend the Sultan, Abulhassan has been asked by the Prince of Persia, who he mentored like a son, to aid young love. The Prince and the sultan's favorite mistress, the independent Shemselnehar, have fallen in love. They know that if they are to share happiness they must flee to the Western Kingdoms of the vast empire. Only the alchemist has a chance to get them out of town, but he would have to risk his life and betray his friend.

Abulhassan believes they ask too much of him as he knows that the chances of success are nil with so many informers lining the city. Still he reflects on his own life and knows he has not treated his own family with the love and nurturing people deserve. Because of his guilt at his own failures, Abulhassan decides to assist the young lovers in their attempt to find happiness together.

This is a great tale filled with a very exciting but rocky path towards freedom as the plan does not implement smoothly. The prime trio is unique individuals each facing remorse yet embracing love. Insight into early Islam and Dark Ages alchemy adds a deep historical base to the tale to include how much light existed in the so called Dark Ages in the Persian Empire. Readers will appreciate this strong historical tale of star-crossed lovers risking all for love.

Harriet Klausner

This is the most satisfying book I've read all year. The descriptions are lush, the relationships complex, and the characters both sympathetic and believable. It truly transported me to another time and place. I want to thrust this book into the hands of all my friends.

If you're the kind of person who "doesn't have time to read," pick this one up over the summer, skip the dull TV reruns, and let yourself be awash in the beauty of this book. The rest of us will have already read it.

This book is beautifully written. I keep recommending it to other people who are interested in Arabian Nights tales. This is the best one I've read. I love the interweaving of themes like alchemy and names. It's a wonderful jaunt into a world that captures the imagination and holds it for ransom until you're done reading.

The Angel with One Hundred Wings, is a totally different story about love: a very contemplative one. It moves slowly at first and then picks up pace, but the book remains somewhat thoughtful and reflective on the unexplainability of love. The main character here is at the end of his life; even at the end of life, the nature of love and companionship is still a spellbinding mystery- what makes one love true and proper in divine judgment, often defies both human understanding and the obligations or laws of man. Almost unexplainably, the main character is compelled to facilitate a love he does not understand, but who knows, despite risking everything by all parties, is worth facilitating.

The story also provides an intersting backdrop of tensions between Persian and Arab courtiers in 8th century Baghdad, and the political and religious debates of the time.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading for reading's sake, and not as a means to an end. The writing flows smoothly, and completely captivates as it weaves a tapestry one can almost see. It does not nitpick details to death, teach any lessons, nor draw any conclusions. The beauty is all in the moment.

I had never read an Arabian Nights tale before and Horch's novel was a great place to start. He does an amazing job of pulling the reader into ancient Bagdad--the sights, sounds and even smells of the place. The lively and loveable cast of characters (a prince, a sultan, a concubine, and one fabulously complex alchemist, among others) experienced love, hatred, betrayal, and redemption in this suspense-filled novel. I had to will myself not to skip to the last page to find out if the fairy tale ended happily ever after...

This book is not well written but the story is good but its borrowed isn't it? I find myself wanting to find out how it ends as opposed to enjoying the moment. A story from Arabian Nights cries out for the jewelled words, dancing elephants, and bursting bombastic speeches. It is nonetheless a valiant effort by someone not from that region and maybe his rendition is perfect for the western reader who perfers sparse words, less speeches, less ceremony, and more story and intrigue. Dont get me wrong its an enjoyable read for its simple language for the subway, beach, plane, or a dentist's waiting room. I was disappointed because i expected so much more.