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The Twentieth Wife:
A Novel Reviewed by: Nancy
Marie, MyShelf.Com The Twentieth Wife: A Novel traces the story of a young Persian girl whose life is tossed about by the winds of fate. Born on the side of the road, literally, abandoned by parents too poor to feed her, re-united with her parents, relocated to India and the Moghal court, the heroine's, Mehrunisa, trials have only just begun. By the time Mehrunisa turns eight years of age, she has already fallen hopelessly in love with Prince Salim, heir to the throne. And, he loves her. But chance, fate, and time are against them. Politics, treachery, and war intervene, as do the ladies of the royal zenna, or harem. But Mehrunisa's love for Salim never falters or wavers, and neither does his. As they overcome one obstacle after another, only to find yet another placed in the path of their love, Mehrunisa and Salim continue to love each other, even if from afar. Although the story is fictional, the main characters in The Twentieth Wife were real people, and Indu Sundareasan's extensive research and knowledge about medieval India add a wealth of information, color, and veracity to this tale. The details about Mehrunisa's society are so vividly articulated in this fine work that the reader will come to believe that have been transported back in time and have become a part of this ancient culture. In addition, Sundareasan displays a great gift for story telling, moving deftly from one action-packed scene to the next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, staying up at night way longer than I should have simply because I had to see what happened next. Anyone who enjoys both good fiction and has a taste for learning about other cultures and societies will undoubtedly enjoy this book. ----- |
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