A comienzos de 1856, la todopoderosa Compañía de las Indias decide someter Lucknow, la llamada "ciudad de oro y plata" por su belleza y riqueza legendarias, a la tutela británica. Esta forzada anexión provoca una insurrección a cuyo frente se alza la begum Hazrat Mahal, cuarta esposa del rey. Junto con su fiel rajá, Jai Lal, y con el apoyo de los cipayos, dispuestos a todos los sacrificios por su causa, Hazrat Mahal, convertida en el alma de la revuelta, encarna la resistencia al invasor.

LUCKNOW, REFINADA CIUDAD CON MAGNÍFICOS PALACIOS Y TEMPLOS DEL REINO DE AWADH, JARDÍN DE LA INDIA (CIUDAD DE ORO Y PLATA), ES ANEXIONADA A LA CORONA BRITÁNICA POR LA COMPAÑÍA DE INDIAS, Y SU REY DESTITUÍDO. HAZRAT MAHAL, BEGUM DEL REY Y MADRE DE SU HIJO, ENTRONIZA A ESTE COMO REY Y AL FRENTE DE SUS SÚBDITOS SE UNE A LA REBELIÓN DE LOS CIPAYOS Y EMPRENDE EL PRIMER INTENTO EN LA INDEPENDENCIA DE LA INDIA. ( )

I received a free copy through Goodreads.
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I love reading historical fictions, especially when it involves royals.

I knew India was culturally rich and full of long standing history, but I never know how culturally rich until a glimpse into the lives of Hazrat Mahal and those around her during that time period.

Hazrat Mahal is such a strong woman, just like so many others in history. Naturally history is written by the victors, so to have history told through a strong contender but was unsuccessfully able to change history is certainly fascinating. Hazrat Mahal is certainly admirable, to have risen up to so high and at such a young age and not to let power corrupt her. Her determination knows no bounds and inspired loyalty.

Like I said, history is written by the victors. In this novel, we had a glimpse of the horrors and atrocities that the Indians were going through under the rule of the British. Naturally I would have liked some more details and character development of some of the famous and infamous generals and countless other people involved in the mutiny to liberate India from itself or the foreigners (British), but it's fine since the man focus was Hazrat Mahal.

After finishing this book, I eagerly looked up more information about Hazrat Mahal, in the hopes of learning more about this fascinating woman, who played a role in changing and shaping India during that time period. ( )

This is an excellent book. It is a romanticized story of Begum Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow, who was married to Wajid Ali Shah, "The Last King Of India". Unlike him, who was a foppish character, the Begum was an extremely admirable character. It is a pity that not too many people remember her.

The Begum was one of the key players in the Indian Mutiny of 1857, not that too many of the British historians who have covered the events of the times mention her adequately.

The book traces her history from that of a young child to her imprisonment in Nepal. The character development is masterful, and the book has a steady pace. This is an extremely good tribute to an extraordinary woman, one who gave up her life and her riches for her ideals, but never compromised on her ideals.

A highly recommended book. ( )

Set in the tumultuous times of the Sepoy Mutiny, or the first war of independence fought by Indians against the British, this is a gripping tale of what went on behind the scenes. Like all great historical fiction, the author does a stupendous job of meshing fact with fiction. The protagonist of the story is Begum Hazrat Mahal, the fourth wife of Wajid Ali Shah, King of Awadh (present-day Lucknow). An orphan who is brought into Wajid Ali Shah's zenana when she is merely a child as a dancer, she catches the attention of the decadent King for her intelligence and her poetry compositions.

As the political turmoil takes root, and the British threaten to annex Awadh, the King departs from Awadh in a bid to travel to England and negotiate with the Queen. He leaves behind the Begum and her 11 year old son. Meanwhile, Hindu and Muslim sepoys in the pay of the British, begin to rebel against the occupiers even as the King is taken prisoner by the British and is detained at Fort William in Calcutta. The Begum is a nationalist at heart and abhors the British for pitting Indian against Indian. The fast changing events thrusts the Begum right into the middle of the action and she becomes one of the leading lights in the 1857 War of Independence.

The author's meticulous research into the period shines through even as she weaves a gripping tale of politics, intrigue, deceit, love, betrayal and brutality. There are parts of the book that resonated for me as many of the themes that the author touches upon are still relevant today in modern India. There is a fascinating incident where the Begum pits her wits against a fanatic maulvi. He challenges her authority in front of her allies and supporters for going against what Islam preaches. The authoritative manner in which the Begum shreds his arguments leaves no one in doubt of her mastery over not just Islamic teachings but her stature as a leader. It was almost as if the Begum was addressing issues about women and their role in politics in modern times.

I would recommend this book for everyone who loves historical fiction and of course to those who want to delve into the real life characters and world of undivided India in 1857.

Set in the tumultuous times of the Sepoy Mutiny, or the first war of independence fought by Indians against the British, this is a gripping tale of what went on behind the scenes. Like all great historical fiction, the author does a stupendous job of meshing fact with fiction. The protagonist of the story is Begum Hazrat Mahal, the fourth wife of Wajid Ali Shah, King of Awadh (present-day Lucknow). An orphan who is brought into Wajid Ali Shah's zenana when she is merely a child as a dancer, she catches the attention of the decadent King for her intelligence and her poetry compositions.

As the political turmoil takes root, and the British threaten to annex Awadh, the King departs from Awadh in a bid to travel to England and negotiate with the Queen. He leaves behind the Begum and her 11 year old son. Meanwhile, Hindu and Muslim sepoys in the pay of the British, begin to rebel against the occupiers even as the King is taken prisoner by the British and is detained at Fort William in Calcutta. The Begum is a nationalist at heart and abhors the British for pitting Indian against Indian. The fast changing events thrusts the Begum right into the middle of the action and she becomes one of the leading lights in the 1857 War of Independence.

The author's meticulous research into the period shines through even as she weaves a gripping tale of politics, intrigue, deceit, love, betrayal and brutality. There are parts of the book that resonated for me as many of the themes that the author touches upon are still relevant today in modern India. There is a fascinating incident where the Begum pits her wits against a fanatic maulvi. He challenges her authority in front of her allies and supporters for going against what Islam preaches. The authoritative manner in which the Begum shreds his arguments leaves no one in doubt of her mastery over not just Islamic teachings but her stature as a leader. It was almost as if the Begum was addressing issues about women and their role in politics in modern times.

I would recommend this book for everyone who loves historical fiction and of course to those who want to delve into the real life characters and world of undivided India in 1857.

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