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The Woman at the Well

By Ann Chamberlin

This extraordinary historical novel takes place in the Middle East in the time of the Prophet Muhammad with the focus on a man named Khalid ibn al-Walid (aka “The Conqueror”) who never lost a battle, but who struggles daily with his past. We learn of his adventures from a eunuch scribe who has come to the house of the turpentine sellers in Tadmor, Syria, where a 12-year-old girl named Rayah lives. Sitt Sameh, a mysterious woman of the desert whom Rayah discovers is her birth mother, also lives in refuge within the turpentine sellers dwelling.

Chamberlin weaves a magical spell over her readers, drawing the time in such finely crafted detail that you will feel as if you are in the desert, helping Bint Zura (Rayah’s grandmother) midwife the birth of a sacred white camel, engaging in a battle of words hurled by the poets of the time, or traveling in a colorful caravan. The author delves deeply into the lives of the women, revealing their strength, their devotion and their power to heal.

Author of eleven historical novels and a nonfiction history of women in the Middle East, Chamberlin has put heart, soul and thirty years of research into the writing of this book, and the breadth of her knowledge of this time period is evident on every page.  Yes, it’s a long, complex read and the type is small, and yes, you may need to refer to the glossary of characters more than a few times.  But the effort is well worth it; you’ll be rewarded with a compelling narrative, unique and wholly believable characters, and a seamless flow of plot and language.

This remarkable tale of love, family and perseverance is richly rewarding on every level: storytelling at its finest.

Reviewed by Kathryn Livingston for IndieReader