A Feast Of Roses - Softcover

Sundaresan, Indu

Softcover

ISBN 10: 9350292092 ISBN 13: 9789350292099

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India, 2012

Synopsis

The Feast Of Roses is a book that revolves around the legacy of Emperor Jahangir s twentieth wife, Mehrunnisa.The Feast Of Roses provides the readers with a detailed account of the life of Empress Nur Jahan, also known as Mehrunnisa, who was Jahangir s twentieth wife. She was regarded one among the most influential figures in India. She was also Jahangir s favorite wife. Jahangir s previous nineteen marriages took place as a result of political reasons, however, Mehrunnisa was the only wife he married because of love, when he was 34 years old. Mehrunnisa then went to become the unsaid emperor of the Mughal lands, which encompassed present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and most parts of Northern and Central India. Even though she lived in an imperial harem, with restrictions on her movement, she was handed over a great deal of power by her loving husband, Jahangir. During Jahangir s seventeen-year reign with Nur Jahan, she began to mint coins with her name inscribed, pass orders, and build a number of Mughal monuments, gardens, and tombs that are still standing in present-day India. However, she did not achieve this kind of authority overnight, as she was once low in the hierarchy of concubines and wives. She also had to deal with Empress Jagat Gosini, who was her rival from day one, seeking to plot against her on every possible occasion. Additionally, she also faced opposition from certain men, in whom Jahangir put great trust for a long time. They believed that Mehrunnisa was but, a woman under a veil, and didn t have the right to voice her opinion in the outside world. However, Mehrunnisa formed her group of supporters in Jahangir s son, her father, and her brother. During her time as a ruler, her supporters began to crumble, however, her strength of character, and shrewdness helped her overcome these struggles. Even though she almost loses the trust of her daughter, she never lost the love of her husband, Jahangir. The Feast Of Roses is a documentary of the life of the most powerful female ruler in the Mughal Dynasty.

About this title

Review

"Feast of Roses" is the sequel to The Twentieth Wife and the title is so apt. The journey of Mehrunnisa from being a wife to the ruler to the guiding force to the emperor is just so beautifully expressed. And the episode "Feast of Roses" is so captivating that it would leave the reader engrossed and you can actually feel the moment around you. An admirer of Mughal Dynasty and love for Indian History, the trilogy is worth the read and a valuable possession to my collection. --Tasneem Ali Apr 18, 2013

You will not be able to put the book down. Even as I'm finished reading it, I want to go back to it again and wish it would not have ended. The writing style of the author makes you feel that you are a part of the times being told, and actually living it. Wonderful book!!! --Neha Sood Mar 12, 2013

My mother bought this book for me. For her it was an experimental read. When I began to read this book, in the dark and wet forests of north Bengal, I didn't want it to end. I always had a weakness for Historical Fiction and this book became one of the best that I had ever read. The intricate details of Mughal life made my imagination run wild! Every woman should read this book, just to see how much we are actually capable of. This book has become my favourite and often I read parts of it, just to marvel at the pure splendour of Induji's writing. Beautiful, from beginning to end. --Jahnavi Jha Jun 11, 2012

About the Author

Indu Sundaresan is a historical fiction author. Sundaresan has written In The Convent Of Little Flowers, Shadow Princess, The Twentieth Wife, and The Splendor of Silence. Sundaresan was born and brought up in India. Her father was an Indian Air Force Pilot, who passed away due to a crash, on duty. Her literary inclination began to surface when the family relocated to Bangalore, where she collected books. She then went to the United States, and pursued her degree in Economics from the University of Delaware. Sundaresan has been presented with the Washington State Book Award in 2003, for her book, The Twentieth Wife. She currently resides in Seattle, Washington, along with her spouse and their daughter.

Edition details

• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers India
• Publication date: 2012
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 9350292092
• ISBN 13: 9789350292099
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 472