E575 | What could historians have to say about a fantasy novel? The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi, published in 2023, follows an aging mother and captain on magical adventures across the twelfth-century Indian Ocean world with her crew. It has been read widely, hitting bestseller lists in the US and being translated into eight languages. In this episode, a group of historians discusses the novel with its author, Shannon Chakraborty. Our conversation covers gender and geography, language and literature, piety and piracy, and of course, magic.
More at https://www.ottomanhistorypodcast.com/2025/11/chakraborty.html
CREDITS
Episode No. 575
Release Date: 16 November 2025
Sound Production by Shireen Hamza
Music: O-Shin by Nyentek; Bahrain - Fidgeri: Songs of the Pearl Divers, recorded by Habib Hassan Touma, courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings; Arabic Music - Music performed by men from area of Ibri (major town of Dhahirah Region) by BBC Sounds
