Amin Maalouf's historical masterpiece, *Leo Africanus*, follows the extraordinary life of Hasan al-Wazzan, born in Granada just before its fall. Exiled across North Africa, his journey takes a dramatic turn when he is captured by pirates and presented to Pope Leo X in Rome. There, he is baptized and renamed Leo Africanus. The novel vividly portrays his internal conflict as he navigates the rich and complex worlds of Islam and Christendom during the Renaissance, offering a profound exploration of identity, culture, and the quest for belonging in a world of shifting allegiances.