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The story's gothic trappings have a basis in fact. As Sundaresan writes in her afterword, the historical Mehrunissa exercised far more power than was usually allotted to an empress, issuing coins in her own name, giving orders, trading, owning property, and patronizing the arts. (Curiously, the book ends just as Mehrunissa is ascending to the throne as empress, dwelling on her years of powerlessness and struggle rather than those of her enormous political influence.) Although the empress was fabled in her time, we know next to nothing about the woman herself. Unfortunately, Sundaresan does little to flesh out this intriguing figure. Despite the vivid historical detail, the reader remains more aware of the author's presence--and her own contemporary take on women's issues--than of her characters' inner lives. --Mary Park --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.THE MIDDAY SUN WHITENED THE CITY OF LAHORE TO A BRIGHT haze. Read the first page
Concordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable historical fiction,
By
This review is from: The Twentieth Wife: A Novel (Hardcover)
Though too young and way beneath his station, Mehrunnisa, the daughter of a Persian courtier to the Mughal Empire, plans to one day wed the heir apparent to the throne Salim. The very intelligent eight-year-old Mehrunnisa knows she needs a plan if she is to achieve her impossible dream of marrying her beloved whom barely knows she exists. A few years later Mehrunnisa is forced to marry a cruel soldier. Besides abuse from her odious spouse, she suffers several miscarriages. However, she ultimately succeeds in gaining more than just the attention of Salim, who is now the Emperor Jahangir, she shares passion with him. Finally, Mehrunnisa accomplishes her dream goal, but though now a powerhouse empress she and her family paid quite a price for her attaining her childhood desires that she never let go of as an adult. Historical fiction readers that relish a deep look at seventeenth century India will gain much pleasure from this descriptive tale. The story line is loaded with historical references with a very illuminating portrayal of Mughal court life. However, the wealth of information, which seems authentic to this pre-school novice on the history of India, overwhelms the characters and thus undercuts the prime tale of Mehrunnisa's efforts to become the empress. Indu Sundaresan provides a vivid tale that the hard core sub-genre audience will want to read, but the weak characters make it difficult for casual fans to care what happens to Mehrunnisa or anyone else. Harriet Klausner
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Looooong and slow,
By Amanda Sykora (Disputanta, VA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Twentieth Wife: A Novel (Paperback)
I typically love books based on Indian culture and cultures that have arranged marriages, etc. However this book was not what I had hoped it would be. While the story starts out great with a growing family moving to make a better life for themselves and the experiences they face, it slowly becomes something a bit more political and focuses on war too much. I could not get passed the war talk! It seemed to go on forever and I was disappointed by how the story unfolded. There seemed to be too much about the war and not enough about the main characters. I was very disappointed but that is probably because I was thinking the story would be something entirely different.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Twentieth Wife,
By
This review is from: The Twentieth Wife: A Novel (Paperback)
I have started reading this book and I am mesmerised, i can not put this book down I need to read constantly. I am halfway reading and am really enjoying it.
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