Goodreads asked Joan Fallon:

Where did you get the idea for your most recent book?

Joan Fallon Ten years ago we visited an exhibition of Umayyad art at the ruins of Madinat al Zahra, just outside Cordoba, in Spain. I was very taken with the place and amazed that the palace had lasted no more than 75 years. Many years later I decided to write a novel, The Shining City, set in this ancient palace-city and had as my hero a young artisan who falls in love with the Caliph's concubine. To learn of the consequences you need to read the book.

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