Ahmed Al-Kamel, the Pilgrim of Love, son of the King of Granada. An astrologer predicted that the prince would lead a fortunate life… provided he did not experience love before reaching middle age. So his father confined him to the Generalife: there he grew up with only his tutor, Eben Bonabben, for company. As Ahmed grows older, he becomes bored with his tutor’s algebra lessons. Realising that his pupil needs something to speak to his heart, the tutor teaches him the language of the birds… and that is when the trouble begins. The birds sing of love, and one of them helps him fall in love with a Christian princess. Ahmed escapes from the Alhambra and, having become the Pilgrim of Love, travels through Andalusia and Castile in search of her, accompanied by an old Muslim owl and a Christian parrot.
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