The sultry heat of August brings to mind tropic breezes and the allure of far-off places. One such place for me has always been India, a vast, multicultural land of mystery and ancient traditions. In honor of that fascination, this month’s selections offer a kaleidoscope of views of the country from several different eras.
Moving chronologically, we begin with BENEATH A MARBLE SKY by John Shors. The author illuminates the story behind one of the world’s great cultural treasures, the Taj Mahal. Princess Jahanara, daughter of Emperor Shah Jahan, who was in 1632 put in charge of overseeing the creation of the monument to his beloved late wife, Mumatz Mahal, narrates the tale, giving readers an inside look at the complexities of its creation at the hands of brilliant architect Isa. Along with the married Princess’s doomed love for the architect, we witness the fratricidal struggle between two of her brothers, both seeking to be heirs to the Peacock throne, one a cynical military man intolerant of the Hindus who make up much of the Empire, the other a scholar who dreams of a prosperous Hindustani Empire that peacefully unites both Hindus and Moslems. Following the historical record, Shors offers up a tale full of intrigue, betrayal, tragedy, love and passion.
We move to 1657 in THE TEMPLE DANCER by John Speed. Bought by a Portuguese trader as an ingratiating gift for the vizier of Bijapur, beautiful temple dancer Maya is sent to her new owner in a caravan led by the mysterious Da Gama. She’s accompanied by a disparate group of travelers: spoiled heiress Lucinda, Portuguese adventurer Geraldo, a handsome prince with a dark secret and the master schemer, the eunuch Slipper. When the caravan is attacked by bandits, the two women and their escorts face unexpected danger, hard choices and difficult decisions that will alter their lives forever. Speed, a renowned historian of India, sets his tale against a lush backdrop of seventeenth century India, a vivid portrait that will mesmerize and inform.
We jump ahead several centuries and shift tone with THE WIDOWS OF MALABAR HILL by Sujata Massey. Inspired by a real figure, the author’s protagonist, Perveen Mistry, is the first female lawyer in Bombay. Despite her impressive education and the support of her father whose law firm she joins, Perveen struggles to create a career in a field (and culture) dominated by men. When the law firm is appointed to execute the will of a wealthy mill owner, Perveen is disturbed to discover the three widows have signed over most of their inheritance to charity, effectively impoverishing them. Suspecting the women have been manipulated and knowing they observe strict purdah, never leaving their quarters or speaking to men, Perveen determines to discover the truth—a quest that will lead her to uncover murder. Set against the rich background of the multicultural city of Delhi, where Muslim, Hindu, Zoroastrian, and Parsi dwell amid the gathering tensions that will lead to Indian independence, Massey’s story and her persistent protagonist provide a compelling read.
Our final selection, MOTH by Melody Razak, brings us up to the time of Partition itself. In 1946 Delhi, fourteen-year-old Alma, daughter of a family of Brahmin intellectuals, is engaged to be married, but times in India are perilous. The imminent split between India and Pakistan, with the former set to become a mostly-Hindu state while the later will be Moslem-controlled, ignites violent confrontations between members of the two religions, shattering the peace of Delhi where the religions and cultures have coexisted for centuries. The violence around them will invade Alma’s own household, as the savagery ignited by hate and intolerance will test to the limit their ability to endure and survive. A stark and vivid picture of the turmoil played out in the life of one woman, one family, Razak’s story creates a searing and unforgettable portrait of India in the throes of Partition.
Ready to take an armchair journey to a vast and fascinating land? Visit a panoply of portraits from different eras in this month’s selection of mesmerizing, insightful stories.
Real, intense, passionate historical romance
Award-winning romance author Julia Justiss, who has written more than thirty historical novels and novellas set in the English Regency and the American West, just completed her first contemporary series set in the fictional Hill Country town of Whiskey River, Texas.
A voracious reader who began jotting down plot ideas for Nancy Drew novels in her third grade spiral, Julia has published poetry and worked as a business journalist.
She and her husband live in East Texas, where she continues to craft the stories she loves. Check her website for details about her books, chat with her on social media, and follow her on Bookbub and Amazon to receive notices about her latest releases.
No comments posted.
© 2003-2025 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy