history Tag

19 Jan

Posted at 05:10h in non fiction
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The tale of an individual Charles Masson (James Lewis) who has an extraordinary adventurer of finding the lost city of Alexandria in the mountains of Afghanistan, Bagram. We see the life and times of this soldier/explorer/spy who doesn't believe in quitting just for the whims and fancies of the English East India Company. This biography is from the late 19th century. This book is tremendously researched and a pure artwork of literature. I am highly impressed by the author and his ways of convincing the reader of the plight of this man who does everything in his power to survive. But he fails to make a mark in the way it should have been. For the achievement and the trauma that he went through, he is actually supposed to be received with fame and grandeur. Instead, he is ridiculed and loses all the finds that he had discovered in Bagram. The English East India company have truly been a cruel animal to him and I think the death of certain individuals in the hands of the Afghans in Kalat and Kabul during the stay of those gentlemen is right. I know what I am saying sounds ridiculous but it is true. These men could've not only saved Charles Masson but also could've lifted his name and his findings to the next level. When he reaches back to his country, the people are still mean and cruel to him. He died a broken man with nothing in his possession other than two...

01 Nov

Posted at 07:17h in non fiction
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Rajaraja Chola or Arulmozhivarman was born to Sundara Chola in 947CE and that marked change of the entire Chola Empire. We see in this book the events that happened before the arrival of the great king Rajaraja Chola as well as his reign at the age of 38, his administration and his socio-political tactics. The victories and defeats of the chola empire have also been written and their sources have also been mentioned. The building of many Shiva temples including the famous Brihadeeshwara Temple at Tanjavur was a sign of Chola's legacy and they being ardent devotees of Lord Shiva. The book is not a smooth read as as a regular fiction reader I did find it quite tedious to attach the different kings and their conquests to the main focus of the book. (eventhough there is a map and a chronological chart). The author have done a tremendous job and I am quite impressed by the amount of work he has done gathering the information about a great king like Rajaraja Chola. It is quite difficult to find a complete genuine article of this king and there a few or none( if I can say that) about the king in detail. Do go in for the book if you are a history buff as the insights are quite marvelous. I have always been a lover of the Brihadeeshwara temple at Tanjavur and this book was a delight to read about the king who sanctioned the building of the 1011 year old temple!...

07 Jun

Posted at 07:25h in fiction
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The book is by the author who had many best sellers in her kitty like The Forest of Enchantments and Palace of Illusions. She is not only an author but also an activist and a teacher of writing. Her work has been published widely, in magazines and anthologies. Plus, her books have been translated into 29 languages. So now let’s get into the plot of the book! PLOT HIGHLIGHT: The book is all about Rani Jindan’s journey from her teens to her demise. The book is a work of fiction through the characters in the book are real! The plot is divided into the time when Jindan Kaur comes to Lahore with her father and brother, her marriage to the king, then she becoming the Queen, and finally her demise! Her father being the kennel keeper of Maharaja Ranjit Singh never expected his daughter to be not only the king’s consort but also his favorite. We see in the book how she has to face the wrath of the King’s eldest wife and how most of the courtiers cannot accept her because she is not of the royal bloodline. Each section of the book not only shows the events in the life of Rani Jindan but also the emotional turmoil that she has to go through. The book describes really well the weight that a Queen has to carry when she also wants a life of a regular human being! REVIEW: The book is truly remarkable and it is quite an interesting read. Though...

03 Sep

Posted at 05:58h in non fiction
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Before we delve into the review of the book, we must talk about the author Manu S. Pillai. He is been my favorite author from the time I read this book. He is truly a gem in this era in the field of historical non-fiction novels. There are also many webinars that he takes part in and his knowledge about Indian History is mind-blowing. He has an Instagram account @waatcoconut where he posts most of his recent work and also historical paintings which is a delight for both his fans and followers. This is his first book and his two other marvelous books that is equally spellbinding. Now, let us start with a review of the book. The book is divided into 20 chapters: A Painter Prince The Queen of the Kupakas Three Consorts The Second Favorite Her Highness The Maharajah A Christian Minister Malice Domestique Tea and Troubles The Boudoir Dewan Black Magic In Letters of Gold Mother and Son La Revanche A Real Little Grande Dame A Palace Coup The Ultimate Eclipse The Villain of the Piece Rivers of Blood The Reluctant Princess Once I Had a Kingdom Each chapter is more interesting than the next one! Each page is wound into a wonderful marvel, too exotic to be true! The author has done absolute justice in the retelling of the extraordinary life of the last and forgotten queen of the house of Royal Travancore. The Kings and Queens of the Royal Travancore House is the epitome of class! So different...