The Librarian of Cordoba

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Hichem Karoui's novel "The Librarian of Cordoba" follows the story of Zaynab, a dedicated librarian and scholar's daughter who works in the Great Library of Cordoba, a vast repository of knowledge.

As political and religious tensions rise outside the library, Zaynab's world is threatened. The radical Imam Malik's inflammatory sermons create fear among the populace, while General Tariq exploits religious sentiment to consolidate power and suppress intellectual thought, viewing the library as a threat to his authority.

When restrictions are placed on the library and its precious scrolls face potential destruction, Zaynab and head librarian Yusuf al-Katib devise plans to protect their collection. They form alliances with unlikely individuals, including Layla (a merchant's daughter) and potentially Hasan (a guard with questionable loyalty to Zaynab's family). Meanwhile, the scholar Dawud ibn Ezra faces increasing prejudice for his translations of Greek philosophers.

As tensions escalate, Zaynab attempts a covert mission to move scrolls but is discovered by guards. The situation worsens dramatically when a mob storms the library seeking to destroy "heretical" texts.