The Twentieth Wife: A Novel

Although it moves slowly at times, the story is amazing and the writing superb. I enjoyed every minute reading this novel.

This is Indu Sundaresan's first novel, and I have to say, dam good for a first! The story is based on real people and events, and is enhanced by Sundaresan's romantic imagination. The descriptions bring you to India in 1600's by including details on foods, scents, colors, customs that were intelligently elaborate and well researched. The writing is smart, fun and captivating. The story is about Mehrunissa, the daughter of refugees, who's family climbs the social ladder. At age 8, she finds herself mesmerized by Salim, the future heir to the throne. She immediately thinks he is beautiful and later develops feelings for him, and through the years she dreams of becoming one of his wives. She is enthralled by the power struggles within the harem and learns to make the right alliances. Even if the allience parties have their own agendas for befriending her. Salim's feelings for her are also very interesting. While reading other scenes I was looking forward to their next meeting. Mehrunissa was a real pip. Definitely a woman ahead of her time. She transcends from a child in a poor family, who cannot afford to feed her, to one of the most powerful women in the History of India. This is an inspiring and very romantic story. I am sure that Historical Fiction fans, as well as anyone that enjoys a well written and romantic story, will find it truly delightful.

This historical novel is based on facts of the late 16th and early 17th century rule of the Mughal Empire in India. The main character, Mahrunnisa, was real - a woman who married the Emperor when she was no longer young, and who then ruled the Empire with him. The story is sweeping and romantic. To be honest, I read the first 50 pages of the book and decided not to read any more. It seemed formulaic at first. And I also have a politically correct streak in me about books always being written about empires rather than common people. And so I put the book in my give-away pile. Then I went to sleep and when I woke up I was thinking about the story. And so, I raced home that evening, picked up the book, and read another 150 pages at once, gobbling the book up in big chunks until I had thoroughly read and enjoyed all 396 pages. What a book! What a story! What an interesting history lesson! The Mughal Empire was so vast and so rich that it was inevitable that there would be lots of in-fighting for the throne. The Empire had a harem but only one of his sons could be Emperor. Competition was ugly. Wars were fought. Lives were lost. There was splendor and love and plain old fashioned good storytelling with the violence real but understated, as was the romance. I was totally captivated. I loved it the book so much I am ordering the sequel. Can't wait to read it.

I am really torn about the three stars. When I was reading, I was thinking it was a four star novel. When I reached the end, I was convinced that I would only give it two. This novel was intriguing from the beginning and kept me interested throughout. The problem is that no one can write a complete story these days. Everything has to be a trilogy. So you read the story, waiting for when the protagonist marries the emperor. As soon as she does, it ENDS. Abruptly. Without warning, or even a gentle winding down. There is not even a cliffhanger or an enigma. It simply is... and then it isn't. I found this maddening and artless, from an author who had already demonstrated that she is capable of very good storytelling. I am so mad at having to buy another book to continue, as if it was a serial, and I feel so cheated by the publisher, that I may not read the next book at all.

I love fiction that illuminates a time or characters that I know little about. I would normally give this 4 stars because of a few things that jarred like the number of dished including tomatoes which only came to india with colonial rule (considered inedible until the 19th century) and probably tobacco though I suspect it would have become established earlier, possibly in the time period described here. On the other hand I found the story so gripping and I am sure I will reread it so I have given it the extra star. A love story and a glimpse of life and history. Who could ask for more! Now for the Feast of Roses.

La compré pensando que se trataba de una novela histórica, pero se trata de una novela de amor sin más. No la recomiendo en absoluto. Lo peor es que la vi recomendada en una sección que informaba sobre los mejores relatos de ficción histórica. Algo positivo, el inglés se lee fácilmente, sin complicaciones, además se aprenden algunos términos sánscritos y de la cultura hindu-musulmana. Algo bueno tenía que tener.

romantic story, good read

Good book, great bargain

My daughter found this book very engaging and found it very well written. She did say it was a bit confusing at the start and the ending was a bit unfinished… but she must have been interested because she just asked me to order the sequel!

Book arrived and ig was in excellent condition!