الهدهد... ان حكيHudhud... Ina Haki

Translated to Arabic, «Bird Summons» by Sudanese novelist based in Scotland, Leila Aboulela. An enchanting, deeply felt portrait of three women searching for freedom, from the three-times Orange Prize longlisted, Scottish Book Award and Caine Prize winner Leila Aboulela.

Salma, Moni and Iman are embarking on a road trip to the highlands to pay homage to Lady Evelyn Cobbold, the first British woman convert to Islam to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca. The women are looking for more than a holiday. Each wants to escape her life; each wants an answer.

Salma came up with the idea for the trip. Born in Egypt, she moved to Scotland for love, giving up her right to practise medicine. Now a successful masseuse, married to David and bringing up their children, she tries every day to fit in. And when her old boyfriend Amir starts messaging her, she is tempted to risk the life she has worked so hard to build.

Moni gave up a career in banking to care for her disabled son. After five years she is reaching breaking point. Her husband wants them to join him in Saudi Arabia, but Moni is reluctant to uproot her son, taking him to a country where she fears his condition will worsen.

Iman, the youngest of the three, in her late twenties and yet on her third husband, is burdened by her beauty. Treated like a pet by her lovers and friends, she longs to be alone and free.

On a remote hillside in Inverness, the women are visited by the Hoopoe, a sacred bird whose fables from Muslim and Celtic literature compel them to question the balance between faith and femininity, love, loyalty and sacrifice.

Brilliantly imagined, intense and haunting, «Bird Summons» confirms Leila Aboulela’s reputation as one of our finest contemporary writers.