The Palace of Illusions takes us back to a time that is half history, half myth, and wholly magical. It is told by Panchaali, wife of the Pandavas brothers, a fiery female redefining for us a world of warriors, gods, and the ever-manipulating hands of fate.
The novel traces the princess Panchaali's life, beginning with her birth in fire and following her spirited balancing act as a woman with five husbands who have been cheated out of their father’s kingdom. Panchaali is swept into their quest to reclaim their birthright, remaining at their side through years of exile and a terrible civil war involving all the important kings of India. Meanwhile, we never lose sight of her strategic duels with her mother-in-law, her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna, or her secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands' most dangerous enemy.
Sneha Mathan expertly handles Divakaruni's magical retelling of the Indian epic THE MAHABHARATA from a woman's point of view. Mathan reveals an astonishing versatility and range. She expresses the Indian-inflected voices of characters old and young, male and female, distinguishing them from one another. Her ability to create these uniquely voiced characters greatly helps listeners with the not insignificant task of keeping people and situations straight in this sweeping story. Best of all is Mathan's complex creation of the mythic Princess Panchaali. Listeners will be enchanted by Mathan's insights into her character as well as by Mathan's voice, which is beautiful and elegantly expressive as she tells Panchaali's long and sometimes sorrowful tale. Divakaruni's deeply imaginative writing and Mathan's skillful narration make a winning combination. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine
About the Author
CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI is the author of the best-selling novels Queen of Dreams, Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, and The Vine of Desire, and of the prizewinning story collections Arranged Marriage and The Unknown Errors of Our Lives. She lives in Houston, Texas, and teaches creative writing at the University of Houston.
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The Palace of Illusions
by Chirra Banerjee Divakaruni
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