by Kenneth Muir
First published 2022
Othello, a Moorish general in Venice, has secretly married Desdemona, a young Venetian woman who fell in love with his tales of African adventures. Their passionate union survives family opposition and military deployment to Cyprus, where Othello serves as governor. But Iago, Othello's trusted ensign, harbors deep hatred for his commander and begins weaving lies about Desdemona's fidelity. He plants seeds of suspicion that grow into consuming jealousy. Othello's faith in his wife crumbles under Iago's manipulation. The man who once inspired Desdemona with stories of exotic lands and noble battles now subjects her to rage and violence. She cannot understand why her devoted husband has turned against her. Iago's poison transforms their love into something monstrous. The differences that once drew them together become weapons in Iago's hands. What began as mutual fascination between two people from different worlds becomes a tragedy of trust destroyed and innocence punished.
Genres: drama, classic-literature, literary-fiction, historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator
Setting: Venice, Cyprus
Period: 19th-century
239 pages · Paperback · Independently published
Content warnings: abuse, racism, violence