Reviews & Musings

About the Author The Book of Indian Kings comprises stories and essays about some of the greatest rulers and statesmen in the history of India. Beginning with an essay on one of the country’s iconic rulers, the Mauryan emperor, Ashoka, by our greatest living historian, Romila Thapar, this volume brings together some of the finest writers of our time on a glittering array of monarchs, including Salman Rushdie on Emperor Akbar, Khushwant Singh on Maharaja Ranjit Singh, William Dalrymple on Bahadur Shah Zafar, Rajmohan Gandhi on Tipu Sultan, Jadunath Sarkar on Chhatrapati Shivaji, and Manu S. Pillai on Krishnadeva Raya.  Source: Amazon.in The Emergence of Empire: Mauryan India by Romila Thapar The First Hindu Empire by Abraham Eraly Raja Raja Chozhar by Kalki Krishnadeva Raya by Manu S. Pillai The Shelter of the World by Salman Rushdie Shivaji and His Times by Jadunath Sarkar Tipu Sultan by Rajmohan Gandhi The Last Mughal by William Dalrymple Ranjit Singh, Maharaja of the ...

The Speaking Stone by Ratnadip Acharya ~Book Tour~ 11th to 17th November

About the book: Source:  The Hindu Business Line Kalyani comes from a lineage of famous devadasis, though there is no place for her talent in the Madras of newly independent India.  The devadasis, once celebrated as artists, are shunned as 'prostitutes' in a modern country. In exchange for a comfortable life as the wife of a wealthy arts promoter, Kalyani has to keep her origins hidden and abandon her mother, Rajayi.  When a Bharatanatyam dancer from the city sets out to record Rajayi's dance repertoire on film, the carefully wrapped-up past threatens to unravel.

Introduction Source: Amazon.in ISBN:978-93-5345-022-9 Genre:  Fiction/ Historical Publishers: Juggernaut Price: Rs. 499/- (I got the book for review from the publisher)

Introduction Source: Goodreads.com ISBN :    978-93-87561-32-8 Genre:  Fiction /Historical Fiction Publishers: Aleph Book Company Price:  Rs. 399/-  ( I got the book for review from the  publisher )

Introduction Source: Amazon.in ISBN :    978-9387578166 Genre:  Historial Fiction  Publishers: Westland Price:  Rs. 250/-  ( I got the book for review from the  publisher )

Introduction Source: Goodreads.com ISBN:  9780143441199 Genre:   F iction/ Historical Fiction Publishers: Penguin Random House Price:  Rs. 299/-  ( I got the book for review from the  author )

Introduction Source: Goodreads.com ISBN:  978-9386228529 Genre:   F iction  Publishers: Juggernaut Price:  Rs. 299/-  ( I got the book for review from the  author )

-Introduction-- ISBN:  978-81-291-4522-2 Genre: -Non-Fiction /Historical Publishers: Rupa Books Price:  Rs.195/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher ) Women Warriors in Indian History explores the life of ten Indian women warriors as narrated by other historical characters. While Italian traveller Marco Polo recounts the story of his contemporary Queen Rudramba, Emperor Jahangir narrates the tale of Durgavati to his future consort. Legendary Tatya Tope unfolds Avantibai’s heroics to Lakshmi Bai and the eunuch General Malik Kafur regales a young sultan with Raziya Sultana’s exploits. Put together chronologically, from the slave dynasty to the first war of Indian independence, these stories showcase the changing canvas of Indian history. More importantly, the narratives bring forward the exceptional qualities of these women warriors, while fighting against gender, social, religious and political odds and oppositions. They prove that women are unequivo...

Introduction ASIN:  B01N25AZ6L Genre: Fiction / Drama Publishers: Amazon Books Price: $4.07  ( I got the book for review from b00k R3vi3ws ) He is married to the Devil, but can he be her advocate? Jacob Barder, a successful New York attorney, returns home to New York after being trapped in Europe during the Second World War and miraculously surviving the Holocaust. Barder does not return alone: with him is his new wife, Rachel, a beautiful blonde woman whom he met in Warsaw shortly after the war - a Jewish survivor who lost her entire family and remained alone in the world. Jacob fell in love with her and brought her to the states. Now he will defend her in the biggest battle of her life. A Jewish lawyer’s wife is accused of committing Nazi war crimes One evening, in a Broadway theater, Rachel is attacked by a woman who accuses her of being Matilda Krause - a German SS officer who served at the Nazi concentration camps. Rachel’s arrest and police investigation op...

Introduction ISBN: 978-81-291-4488-1 Genre:  Fiction /History Publishers: Rupa Price:  Rs.299/-  ( I got the book for review from the  publisher ) ‘[The author] has excelled in recreating in the reader’s mind the enormity of the tragedy a man suffered and how he chose to sculptor his choked passion into a concrete beauty…’ —Dr Meerza Kaukab, great-grandson of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.The last king of Audh, Nawab Wajid Ali Shah of Lucknow was exiled by the British to Metiabruz in Bengal, on the fringes of Calcutta. Despite being robbed of his rightful throne, the Nawab did not lose hope; instead, he set about establishing a new mini-kingdom on the banks of the River Hoogly. Little by little he brought in the Laknawi way of life to this area of Bengal, so much so that Metiabruz came to be called ‘Chota Lucknow’. Extensively researched and evocatively written, this book looks at a forgotten king and how he turned his exile into a victory of sorts. Behind the B...

Introduction ISBN: 9788184959444 Genre: F iction / Literature/ Historic fiction Publishers: Jaico Books Price:  Rs.399/-  ( I got the book for review from the publisher ) The Portuguese captain anchored his fleet near the Calicut port. He fixed his piercing gaze on the shore and stood still. This time, Vasco da Gama made up his mind to take the treasures of the Malabar Coast back with him at any cost. His priority, pepper the Black Gold! Across the sea, the Zamorin of Calicut began to panic. He knew Gamas return meant trouble. Calicuts relationship with the neighbouring kingdoms isnt exactly cosy, thanks to Zamorins exacting trade policy. A failure at this point is not an option and that too, to a foreigner! To add to his worries, theres a spy roaming free in his own turf, plotting revenge. In the center of all this melee is the Zamorins pretty niece, Kunjulakshmi, harbouring her own little secret that could crumble the kingdom and start a war of doom on the coast. ...

Introduction ASIN:  B01BXR4838 Genre: Fantasy / Horror/ Science Fiction Publishers:  Australian Ebook Publisher Price:  Rs. 201- ( I got this book from the  author  for a review ) A nun commits suicide in front of thousands in Spain. In Australia, Siobhan Russo recognises that nun as her mother, Denise Russo, who disappeared six years ago. In search of answers, Siobhan travels to the isolated convent where her mother once lived. Here she discovers Denise’s final confession, a book that details a heinous betrayal that left her crippled and mute, and Denise’s subsequent deal with the Devil to take revenge. In the desperate bargain Denise made with the Prince of Darkness, she wagered Siobhan’s soul. As Siobhan discovers the fate of her soul, she learns that hidden within the pages of her mother’s confession is part of The Devil’s Prayer, an ancient text with the power to unleash apocalyptic horrors. And now her mother’s enemies know Siobhan has it. ...