Book description
Brought up on his father's cotton plantation in Alexandria, Charles
Austen had always led a privileged life. But when Charles falls
hopelessly in love with Karima Ismail, his world is turned upside
down. For although beautiful, and blessed with a magnificent singing
talent, Karima is merely a servant and her forbidden love affair with
Charles is destined to end in tragedy.
All too soon Karima is forced to accept a hastily arranged marriage
and learns to live contentedly with her husband and daughter, Nadia,
the only tangible link that remains between her and Charles. In time,
she also becomes one of the most admired and successful singers of her
generation - the adored 'Nightingale'.
Yet Karima's success counts for nothing when Nadia suddenly
disappears. For years this traumatic event casts a shadow over
Karima's life and the life of her beautiful daughter who, with a new
identity and a new name, grows up thousands of miles away. It is only
when an unexpected chain of events leads 'Gaby' back to Egypt, that
she can begin to unravel the mystery of her past - and discover the
happiness she longs for.
Soheir Khashoggi was born in Alexandria, Egypt. A member of one of
Saudi's most prominent families, she has used her influence to highlight
the plight of women across the Arab world. She has participated in
conferences worldwide and was a speaker at the international Women's
World Forum Against Violence, an organization founded by Queen Sofia of
Spain. Her acclaimed first novel, Mirage, was published in 1996 and was
followed by Nadia's Song and Mosaic. She has four daughters and lives in
New York City.
