23rd November 2023
6.30pm
Daunt Books Hampstead, London
Set in 16th-century Mexico, Red Smoking Mirror offers an alternative history to the fall of Islamic Spain to the Christians. The story follows Jewish merchant Eli Ben Abram as he leads the first ships across the sea to the New Maghreb. Here he attempts to establish a fragile peace with the Moorish enclave with the help of his Nahua wife, Malinala. But following their arrival, sacrifices increase at the temples, a mysterious illness erupts, and talks of hostile groups crossing the sea circulate the city. Eli realises quickly that peace won’t last long.
Red Smoking Mirror explores the power of alternative histories and the comparisons we can make with our own, the legacy of colonialism and empire, as well as the travels that influenced his writing. All aspects unite to beg the question: does history create leaders or do leaders create history?
Joining Nick in conversation is award-winning author, Joanna Pocock, best known for her collection of essays, Surrender, published by Fitzcarraldo. Joanna’s writing and photography has also appeared in The New Statesman, The Times Literary Supplement and Dazed and Confused.
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