The Sugar Merchant
by James Hutson-Wiley
This is an amazing historical story that shows the nature of trade in the middle ages. It starts in 1066, with the raid of Flanders. The book details how relationships between Islam and Jewish, and Christians. The book shows the import of the sugar and silk into England because of trade.

What a clever tale ! I will strongly recommend this book to anyone with an interest for the years 1000-1100, when all began for international commerce as we know it today. this is one aspect of the book. the other matter is how networks of spies were used for political and religious affairs. But this is not a complete vision without the trading of knowledge and the possible friendship of men, whatever their beliefs. Don't be taken back by all these problematic contexts. The story unfold as a diary, with lots of fights, suspens, drama and emotional episodes. you'll be transported to other times when people were discovering new spices, materials and food, with exotic names. ( go to the book at the end of the book to identify places and food). I will recommend this book to my students learning business English, it is vital for them to discover that not so many things are changing. I won't say which ones to avoid spoilers.
I saw that in 2020 the author published book number 2, can't wait to read it.
I got a copy from NetGalley, all opinions are mine.

A 11th century story has to be I thought a bit slow, interesting but slow.
This proved me wrong.

Thomas lost his entire family in a raid. Through sheer doggedness and good luck he ended up with a monk who took him back to his monastery, and became the father he had lost and the monastery became the family he wanted. A bright spark, he took to learning, academic as well as others and the senior monks ear marked him for a future far away from rural Eynsham.

Entering into a world of trade, totally unknown to him the adventures of Thomas were myriad and wide. Encountering Jews and Muslims he befriends both communities, establishes a profitable commercial venture/s, marries a Muslim despite a fatwa against it and becomes a person of stature in the Islamic world he embraces.

The story was fascinating, fast paced and held my interest throughout. For those who like history it provided enough, it was also a personal story of rags to riches and this enthralled me as well.