Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know

It is August in Paris and budding art historian Khayyam should be having the time of her life - but even in the City of Lights she can't stop worrying about the mess she left back home in Chicago. Only when she meets a cute young Parisian - who happens to have the same name and be a distant relative of the novelist Alexandre Dumas - do things start to get interesting, as she starts to unveil the story of a 19th century Muslim woman whose path may have intersected with Dumas, Eugene Delacroix and Lord Byron.

Two hundred years earlier in the Ottoman empire, Leila is the most favoured woman in the Pasha's harem. Her position is meant to be coveted; but she is struggling to survive as she fights to keep her true love hidden from her jealous captor. Echoing across centuries, as Khayyam uncovers the scintillating truth of Leila's long-forgotten life, her own destiny is transformed forever.

It was clear from the start of Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know that Ahmed has a genuine passion for this novel based on real characters from the world of art and literature. It was a pure joy to read and compelled me to go on and research more about Alexandre Dumas and Le Chateau de Monte Cristo which is truly stunning and worth a 'Google', even better, a visit! Reading about Dumas writing studio in the grounds, Le Chateau d'If, I realised just how much research had gone into the writing of Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know. When you read about this towards the end of the novel, find a picture of the chateau to refer to - it's incredible!

This novel had many cleverly sculpted layers throughout and explored many themes. Leila's story was heart-breaking, she lost her one true love and spent the rest of her life remaining true to him and herself in a world dominated by men, befriending Byron and Dumas along the way. She had a story to tell which Khayyam and the present-day Alexandre Dumas uncovered on a quest to save the Dumas legacy and a bid by Khayyam to prove that her rejected art history essay for The School of the Art Institute was not there to define her. Khayyam's relationships with her American 'boyfriend' Zaid and Alexandre in Paris were pitched perfectly and gave an intelligent insight into young love and the associated feelings, confusion and upset without becoming mawkish and syrupy.

I was thrilled to read about Shakespeare & Company, the most wonderful bookshop in Paris. Having been there myself, it brought back many happy memories and I could imagine myself there amongst the dusty bookshelves with Khayyam - extra points for this - not that they were needed!

At the end, Khayyam wearing a T-short emblazoned with the powerful message #writeherstory perfectly summed up the essence of the novel; everyone has a voice that should be heard, everyone belongs.

The story of Leila, the lady of the raven tresses, and Khayyam is a wonderfully rich, intelligent and deeply immersive story, beautifully told by Samira Ahmed. It's a mystery. It's a love story. It's historical fiction. It's got it all. Two distinctive voices of headstrong and powerful women, each with their own mark to make on the world. Get it in the hands of anyone you can - this is a lesson in how to write a novel! I for one will be rereading this lyrical and memorable book in the not too distant future - I absolutely loved it.

336 pages / Reviewed by Lucy Georgeson, school librarian

Suggested Reading Age 14+