Book 59: The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Book 59: The Palace of Illusions: a novel.
Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2008.
Genre: Historical Fiction. Indian History and Culture. Myth and Legend.
Other Details: Hardback. 374 pages.
'The Palace of Illusions' takes us back to a time that is half-history, half-myth, and wholly magical; narrated by Panchaali, the wife of the five Pandava brothers, we are - finally - given a woman's take on the timeless tale that is the Mahabharata.
Tracing Panchaali's life -- from fiery birth and lonely childhood, where her beloved brother is her only true companion; through her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna; to marriage, motherhood and Panchaali's secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands' most dangerous enemy - 'The Palace of Illusions' is a deeply human novel about a woman born into a man's world - a world of warriors, gods and the ever manipulating hands of fate. - synopsis from UK publisher's website.
I realised quite early on that my unfamiliarity with Indian culture and mythology meant that this wasn't going to be a quick read and I wanted to give the novel the attention it deserved. So I returned the book to the library and ordered myself a copy. This allowed me to take my time and savour this rich story, which is full of tragedy and regrets as well as love, heroism and wisdom.
The Place of Illusions demonstrated to me how powerful and complex the Mahabharata is and as the author stated in her opening statement the novel served as an introduction for me. That the novel's narrator is a woman also provides a different slant on the mythic elements as it comes across as a very human tale even with the presence of gods and magical objects. Divakaruni's prose is beautiful with a lyrical quality in keeping with her background as a poet.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's page on 'The Palace of Illusions' - includes links to excerpt, author's interview and reader's guide to the novel.