07 Jun THE LAST QUEEN | CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI
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 it is a work of fiction, the author has blended well both history and the storyline. The courage shown by Rani Jindan is absolutely true. The fact that she had to stay away from her son for 13 years because of the atrocities shown by the British is an act that no mother should undergo. I suggest that if you get a hand to read this one, please don’t miss it. The writing style is good and it is an easy read! We don’t have to keep a dictionary next to us! This book has made me revisit my country’s (India’s) history of independence!
RATING: 5/5
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