Setting the plot of the book in the year 1179, Gibraltarian Abraham Marrache has just released in Madrid his first historic novel: ‘La Historia de Fermosa’.

Published by Hebraica Ediciones in conjunction with Casa Sefarad Israel, the book charts the love affair that swept two young individuals - King Alfonso VIII of Castile and Fermosa, a local Jewish beauty - towards a direct confrontation with Leonor, his English-born Queen and a group of nobles opposed to the extra-marital relationship and its possible influence on the Kingdom’s future.

Mostly set in Toledo, the narrative also encompasses the singular characteristics of the city at that time, when its Christian, Moslem and Jewish inhabitants helped to make it one of the most important centres of power and learning in Europe, not least on account of its renowned School of Translators.

The author comments: “Working over a four-year period, with the separate calendars of the three religions, numerous manuscripts and reference books, both in Spain and the United Kingdom, one had to become a medieval sleuth in order to follow the King’s movements on a daily basis. Finally, though, all the pieces to the puzzle fell into place and the timing and context of the love affair became satisfyingly clear”.