Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan is the follow up novel to The Twentieth Wife. This new novel follows the life of Mehrunnisa after she marries Emperor Jahangir in 17th century India and becomes Empress Nur Jahan, "Light of the World." We learn that it is she who is really in control of the Empire.
This book is a fascinating portrait of India during the height of the Mughal Empire, and of one woman who managed to rule an empire against all odds. We learn of life in the imperial zenana (royal harem) and the politics there, and how Empress Nur Jahan became the power behind the veil.
It is a brutal time in history when sons fight with brothers, cousins, and fathers to claim rights to the thrown. The most famous of the Mughal Emperors is Shah Jahan, Emperor Jahangir's son, for it is he who erected the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, and unfortunately, Empress Nur Jahan has been all but forgotten. Sundaresan brings her story to life here.
However, without first reading The Twentieth Wife, Feasts of Roses can be a difficult book, and much of the depth of the characters is lost. I enjoyed reading The Twentieth Wife more, and I think it is a better novel, but I was happy to read The Feast of Roses, to find out the end of Mehrunnisa's story. To truly enjoy this novel, I would suggest starting at the beginning.
No comments:
Post a Comment