- ISBN13: 9780743428187
- Condition: NEW
- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
Product Description
An enchanting historical epic of grand passion and adventure, this debut novel tells the captivating story of one of India’s most controversial empresses — a woman whose brilliance and determination trumped myriad obstacles, and whose love shaped the course of the Mughal Empire. Skillfully blending the textures of historical reality with the rich and sensual imaginings of a timeless fairy tale, The Twentieth Wife sweeps readers up in Mehrunnisa’s embattled love with Prince Salim, and in the bedazzling destiny of a woman — a legend in her own time — who was all but lost to history until now.Amazon.com Review
In The Twentieth Wife, first-time novelist Indu Sundaresan introduces readers to life inside a bejeweled, dazzling birdcage–the world of the Mughal Court’s zenana, or imperial harem. Her heroine exercises power in the only way available to a woman in 17th-century India: from behind the veil. At the age of 8, Mehrunissa (the name means “Sun of Women”) has already settled on her life’s goal. After just one glimpse of his face, she wants to marry the Crown Prince Salim. And marry him she does, albeit some 26 years later, after overcoming the opposition of her family, an ill-starred early marriage, numerous miscarriages, and the scheming of other wives.
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
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About the Author
I have always been interested in Indian history and I had been intrigued with the idea of knowing more about Jahangir and Noor Jahan. However, The 20th Wife reads more like a history book than a fictionalized account of what happened. All the characters are hollow and shallow, one wonders how the Moghals ruled for as long as they did since most of them seem only interested in their harem and wine. Beyond that, the herione of our story was terribly unsympathetic and boring. Sundaresan never told us enough about Mehrunissa so that we could be convinced of her beauty or her charm. It seemed illogical that Salim, who was so fickle, should not only lust after her for years, but should also be in love with her. The story didn’t seem to be set in the past because the women seemed to have so much freedom and the ability to speak their will without any recriminations. I wish the people who make this story had been fleshed out more. I felt the details of the elephants and historical facts were given precedent over the characters. Not one character in the entire story made you want to give a damn about what happened to who and when.
Rating: 2 / 5
I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t. The setting and the culture is very exotic but the story itself is very weak and uninteresting. The characters are all one-dimensional and their motivations are not explored; it is hard to care about them or to feel that you are really a part of their world. The plot moves very, very slowly and it is easy to get bogged down and bored in the endless narration. The Arabic names are pretty but are hard to keep straight, especially when very few characters have any defining attributes that will help a reader remember them.
I can’t recommend it.
Rating: 2 / 5
I am a huge fan of historical fiction (The Borgia Bride; The Red Tent; I, Elizabeth; anything by Phillippa Gregory, etc) but was rather disappointed by The Twentieth Wife, especially the lack of closure at the end of the novel, as if it were written merely in preparation for the sequal. While I appreciate the level of research and commend the author’s dedication to her subject and trying to capture the world Melrunnissa lived in, I felt parts of the book lacked direction and were quite boring and long-winded. Additionally, while the author was so methodical in her research, it was disappointing that the dialogue did not ring true to this time period.
Rating: 2 / 5
I think this book could have been a lot better if the editing were done correctly. I found all the mistakes boring and annoying. I will not be reading any more books by this writer at least not until Indu Sundaresan gets a few more books underbelt!
Rating: 1 / 5
A girl sees the prince, she imagines herself in love. Because she is a girl, she is subject to the politics of her family. The prince becomes a rebel, she becomes a general’s wife. The story it a tale of a young girls desire to marry her prince.
Rating: 4 / 5