Between Love and Honor

Description

"In 1839, after decades of conflict, the Russian army and the Muslims of Chechnya are on the verge of a truce. To prove his commitment to peace, warrior chief Imam Shamil offers a hostage: his son Jamal Eddin. But once the truce is signed, the Russians spirit Jamal Eddin back to Russia, where Czar Nicholas 'adopts' the boy. Immersed in imperial court life, Jamal Eddin matures into the consummate courtier. Still he maintains his Muslim faith--until he falls in love with a beautiful Russian aristocrat. To marry her Jamal Eddin must convert to Christianity, a sacrifice he is prepared to make. But his devotion to his bride will be pitted against his duty to his homeland when Jamal Eddin is called to take his rightful place leading the Muslims."--P. [4] of cover.

French novelist and biographer Alexandra Lapierre is a graduate of the Sorbonne and the University of Southern California. Her best-selling books have been translated worldwide, including two titles in English, Fanny Stevenson and Artemisia, and have garnered her numerous awards, including the best book of the year by the readers of Elle magazine for her biography of American pioneer Fanny Stevenson. She was voted Woman of Culture by the city of Rome, Italy, and has been nominated Chevalier in the "Order of Arts and Letters" by the French government. Her most recent work, L'Excessive, was an immediate best seller in Europe and is being developed for a television series. Alexandra Lapierre lives in Paris.

"This is a beautiful book based on strong research, illuminated with very successful novelized touches." -Jean Soublin, Le Monde "Built as an adventure novel, but based on rigorous work of research, this book tells the true story of a noble and powerful man torn between two cultures and two loyalties...The result is a fascinating epic." -Robert-Yves Quiriconi, Associated Press "This powerful novel is the result of colossal research serving an exalted plot." -Nathalie Six, Le Figaro Litteraire "A novel in the grand style of Alexandre Dumas, where the magic of the story blends with love, war, religion...A total success!" -Philippe Vallet, France Info