Nearly 400 years ago, in 1627, a Corsair pirate raiding party from Algeria reached the coast of Iceland and for a month invaded villages, killing some and taking several hundred others captive. The prisoners were eventually sold in Algiers as slaves and taken into households. These Lutheran Christians were required to convert to Islam and in the case of the children brought up in the Muslim faith.
A few months ago I read a novel called The Sealwoman's Gift which imagines the life of one of those slaves who was described as a concubine at the time and who develops an usual relationship with her wealthy master. Her Icelandic husband, a pastor, was allowed to return to Denmark, the nation which controlled Iceland, to negotiate redemption for the several hundred captives . The woman given the name Asta in the novel ends up conversing about religion with the master, Cilleby, and her resolve to remain true to her faith, even if it means death, but this is eroded not under the threat of torture or death but through honest exchanges.
Cilleby speaks about the flowering of Islamic culture in Spain and the religious tolerance, if not acceptance, extended to Jews and Christians. He points out some of the common themes of the religions and that it has often been power and greed which has led people to attempt to impose one religion on those who practice another.
Historically, the king of Denmark did pay the ransom for a group of these slaves, and they returned to what was a much harsher existence in Iceland. I won't say more because I recommend the novel and the interesting discussion it provokes. Hey, I would have bought it just for the creative cover art.
Have any of you read this novel? Did you enjoy it, and did it prompt some interfaith musing on your part?
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