This novel, banned shortly before publication in Sept '08 by Random House, attracting British and world-wide media attention, tells for the first time the moving but little known love story between Mohammed and his favoured wife Ai'sha. A wonderful fast-paced novel and an uplifting subject that readers from all religions will enjoy.

Rich in intrigue and scheming, love and lust, Sherry Jones’s vibrant historical novel follows four women destined to sway the fate of nations and the hearts of kings… Amid the lush valleys and fragrant wildflowers of Provence, Marguerite, Eléonore, Sanchia, and Beatrice have learned to charm, hunt, dance, and debate under the careful tutelage of their ambitious mother—and to abide by the countess’s motto: “Family comes first.” With Provence under constant attack, their legacy and safety depend upon powerful alliances. Marguerite’s illustrious match with the young King Louis IX makes her Queen of France. Soon Eléonore—independent and daring—is betrothed to Henry III of England. In turn, shy, devout Sanchia and tempestuous Beatrice wed noblemen who will also make them queens. Yet a crown is no guarantee of protection. Enemies are everywhere, from Marguerite’s duplicitous mother-in-law to vengeful lovers and land-hungry barons. Then there are the dangers that come from within, as loyalty succumbs to bitter sibling rivalry, and sister is pitted against sister for the prize each believes is rightfully hers—Provence itself. From the treacherous courts of France and England, to the bloody tumult of the Crusades, Sherry Jones traces the extraordinary true story of four fascinating sisters whose passions, conquests, and progeny shaped the course of history.

Before dying, Muhammad leaves his jeweled sword to A'isha, telling her to use it in the jihad to come. But what if the jihad is against her own people? This climactic sequel to "The Jewel of Medina" returns to 7th-century Arabia to discover whether, after fighting a civil war, a people can ever truly heal.

From the author of The Jewel of Medina, a moving and insightful novel based on the life of legendary performer and activist Josephine Baker, perfect for fans of The Paris Wife and Hidden Figures. Discover the fascinating and singular life story of Josephine Baker--actress, singer, dancer, Civil Rights activist, member of the French Resistance during WWII, and a woman dedicated to erasing prejudice and creating a more equitable world--in Josephine Baker's Last Dance. In this illuminating biographical novel, Sherry Jones brings to life Josephine's early years in servitude and poverty in America, her rise to fame as a showgirl in her famous banana skirt, her activism against discrimination, and her many loves and losses. From 1920s Paris to 1960s Washington, to her final, triumphant performance, one of the most extraordinary lives of the twentieth century comes to stunning life on the page. With intimate prose and comprehensive research, Sherry Jones brings this remarkable and compelling public figure into focus for the first time in a joyous celebration of a life lived in technicolor, a powerful woman who continues to inspire today.

Set in ancient Arabia during the dramatic birth of Islam, this captivating debut novel paints a fascinating portrait of A'isha, child bride of the prophet Muhammad, who overcame great obstacles to reach her full potential as a woman and a leader.

Censorship of religious and philosophical speculation is as old as history and as current as today's headlines. Many of the world's major religious texts, including the Bible, the Talmud, the Koran, and others, have been suppressed, condemned, or proscribed at some time. Works of secular literature that touch upon religious beliefs or reflect dissenting views have also been suppressed. Literature Suppressed on Religious Grounds, Fourth Edition profiles the censorship of many of these works. These include the frequently challenged Harry Potter series, which critics accuse of promoting witchcraft and anti-family themes, as well as Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy and Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Entries include: The Age of Reason (Thomas Paine) The Analects (Confucius) The Battle for God (Karen Armstrong) The Bible Children of the Alley (Naguib Mahfouz) Critique of Pure Reason (Immanuel Kant) The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown) Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (Galileo Galilei) Discourse on Method (Rene Descartes) Don Quixote (Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra) The Harry Potter series (J.K. Rowling) His Dark Materials (Philip Pullman) The Jewel of Medina (Sherry Jones) The Koran The Last Temptation of Christ (Nikos Kazantzakis) On the Origin of Species (Charles Darwin) The Satanic Verses (Salman Rushdie) The Talmud Thirteen Reasons Why (Jay Asher) and more.

In this new collection of interviews, some of America's most prominent novelists identify the key intellectual developments that led to the rise of the contemporary biographical novel, discuss the kind of historical 'truth' this novel communicates, indicate why this narrative form is superior to the traditional historical novel, and reflect on the ideas and characters central to their individual works. These interviews do more than just define an innovative genre of contemporary fiction. They provide a precise way of understanding the complicated relationship and pregnant tensions between contextualized thinking and historical representation, interdisciplinary studies and 'truth' production, and fictional reality and factual constructions. By focusing on classical and contemporary debates regarding the nature of the historical novel, this volume charts the forces that gave birth to a new incarnation of this genre.