Sherry Jones (1) (1961–)

Josephine Baker’s Last Dance by Sherry Jones is a biographical novel about American Josephine Baker, who, because of her race, had to go to France in the 1920s to be declared the entertaining star that she was. She lived life on the edge whether she was struggling as a poor black child in St. Louis or achieving fame by dancing partially nude on the stage of the Folies Bergere. But there was more to this woman than what was shown on stage, she was equally at home in the uniform of the French Air Force, or working with the French Resistance during World War II, for which she was awarded the Resistance Medal and the Croix de Guerre. She also spent time as a Civil Rights Activist and was the only woman invited to speak at the 1963 March on Washington. Unfortunately she was never able to attain popularity in the United States and her star turn in the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies was not commercially successful.

The author brings this vibrant personality to life on these pages. As Josephine Baker conquers Paris in the Jazz Age we read of her transformation and her interactions with some of the greatest artists of the day among them, Pablo Picasso, Ernest Hemingway, Cole Porter and George Gershwin. Her romantic life was very bumpy but she never gave up her search for love and acceptance. The words “too young, too dark, too ugly” haunted her and her celebrity status at times was much more important to her than being faithful in a relationship. Josephine’s rise to stardom took place in France but meanwhile the Nazi party and Hitler were rising in Germany and soon cast their shadow over all of Europe.

I thoroughly enjoyed Josephine Baker’s Last Dance not only for learning about this intriguing personality, but also for the author’s wonderful writing and creative research which brought the setting and the times vividly to life.… (plus d'informations)

La joven Aisha es hija de un mercader de la Meca, lugar en el que vive durante los tiempos de la fundación del Islam, en el siglo VII. A la edad de nueve años es dada en matrimonio al Profeta, un honor mayor que el que la niña alcanza a comprender. La difícil adaptación a su nuevo hogar hace que Aisha se vea obligada a recurrir a toda su astucia y su valor para hacerse un lugar en el harén. No todos los problemas los tiene la muchacha: ahora las dificultades empiezan a envolver al Profeta y surgen los primeros enemigos. Además, él ya es mayor, y no tiene una clara descendencia.… (plus d'informations)

Antes de morir, Mahoma le entrega a su esposa Aisha la espada de Medina, aconsejándole que en el futuro haga buen uso de ella en la lucha santa, la yihad. Desolada por la muerte de su esposo, Aisha sufre también a causa de la nueva situación de su pueblo: su propio padre, Abu Bakr, busca reforzar el Islam luchando salvajemente con los beduinos rebeldes que intentan perturbar la paz de su tierra. Al mismo tiempo, Alí, el único heredero de Mahoma, teme que, de no llevar a cabo ninguna acción, los corruptos consejeros del Profeta pongan en peligro la supervivencia del Islam. Otros le urgen a hacerse con el poder y guiar al pueblo musulmán tal como Mahoma lo había deseado. Aisha descubre con horror que Alí ejerce la violencia contra las mujeres e introduce en el Islam nuevas formas que las relegan. Mientras Alí acusa a Abu de la matanza de inocentes, Aisha se enfrenta a él reprochándole su ambición de poder. A partir de aquí, se desarrolla una feroz lucha entre ambos personajes, fundamentales para entender los orígenes del Islam.… (plus d'informations)