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Shop nowThe Twentieth Wife
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Learn moreAn enchanting historical epic of grand passion and adventure, this debut novel tells the captivating story of one of India’s most controversial empresses, a woman whose brilliance and determination trumped myriad obstacles and whose love shaped the course of the Mughal Empire.
Skillfully blending the textures of historical reality with the rich and sensual imaginings of a timeless fairy tale, The Twentieth Wife sweeps listeners up in Mehrunnisa’s embattled love with Prince Salim, and in the bedazzling destiny of a woman, a legend in her own time, who was all but lost to history until now.
Indu Sundaresan was born in India to a long line of storytellers. After an undergraduate degree in economics, she came to the United States for graduate school at the University of Delaware, where her passion for writing soon took over. Her first novel, The Twentieth Wife, was awarded the 2003 Washington State Book Award.
Sneha Mathan is a voice actor and audiobook narrator. Her audiobook work has received several Earphones awards, and she is a three-time Audie Award finalist. She lives in Seattle.
Reviews
“A sweeping, carefully researched tale of desire, sexual mores, and political treachery set against the backdrop of sixteenth and seventeenth century India…describing life in the royal court in convincing detail and employing authentic period terms throughout.”
“Sundaresan writes in the great tradition of the Indian epic, an art she carries forward with grace and brilliance…A remarkably readable book.”
“[Sundaresan] regales us with a wonderfully plausible story shimmering with saffron and splendor. Sneha Mathan’s rich voice, with its depth and variety of accents, tinged with a hint of British India, sweeps us into this exotic world. She portrays a Mehrunnisa who is sweet yet who is capable of being devious when necessary. The sequel is out, but not yet in audio. What a treat if Mathan were to read it.”
“The narration is splendid, and the large number of exotic-to-Western-ears Hindi words, names, and phrases shine in Mathan’s deep, rich, beautiful voice with a British inflection.”
“Mathan smoothly indicates the sophistication of Mughal Empire royals and the few who are qualified to serve them. Her range deepens resonantly when reading the male characters; she is especially convincing in the role of Prince Salim, who is worshiped by the bold and witty Mehrunnisa. Mathan also does a good job with the many Indian words that comprise the text.”
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