It is pure bliss. At the opening of the novel he is eleven. The novel moves continually between India, Burma and Malaya and follows India and Burma's struggles for independence and ends with Aung San Suu Kyi addressing her supporters from her home/prison in 1996. In the Glass palace he has created a wonderful novel that tells of the lives, times and interrelationships of a group of people and their families over three generations. - Akshaya Kumar, The Sunday Tribune Regardless of your personal history, reading The Glass Palace is like leafing through your own family's photo album. I did not understand or empathize with any of the characters and would have preferred more in depth coverage of a shorter period of time. You can read The Glass Palace A Novel PDF direct on your mobile phones or PC. This was a truly epic read. True postcolonial fiction, expressing everything we want to say about the 20th century but haven't been able to. Stop! I will read more by the author. What a fucking nincompoop you would say, comparing an internationally acclaimed novel to a mere sandwich. [s], World Literature Group Read (Southeast Asia: April 2015) - The Glass Palace, by Amitav Ghosh, The Debut Novel 'Of Women and Salt' Explores the Force of History. I did not think I would as it is not the type of book I would pick for myself but so glad my book group chose it. He cannot forget her, and years later, as a rich man, he goes in search of her. Stop! The Glass Palace is a 2000 historical novel by Indian writer Amitav Ghosh. The Glass Place is one of my favourite books of his. On the other hand, a classier version for $150 is layered with buttered lobsters, black truffles and caviar. And you feel transported into a different time and place in a way which few can achieve. Kipling's visit to Rangoon in Burma, inspired. When soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, a young woman in the court of the Burmese Queen, whose love will shape his life. It is set in Burma, Malaya, and India during a turbulent period in the region’s history. This book is epic in length and covers three generations of Indians in the countries of Malaya and Burma (Myanmar) from 1885 until the end of the twentieth century. During the British invasion of 1885, when soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, the woman whose love will shape his life. It traces over 100 years spanning colonialism, the end of the Burmese monarchy, two wars and the ultimate implantation of a police state in Burma through the fictional stories of people bound together by business, marriage and friendship. A few are strongly written - the torn loyalties of the Indian soldier when faced with continuing to serve a British master as part of the empire or switching to the Japanese side to drive the British out. Amitav Ghosh: The Glass Palace. I feel his pain at the reader's ignorance. The Glass Palace. In The Glass Palace Ghosh examines the individual, psychological dilemmas posed by colonialism. The Glass Palace is a case in point. Ghosh sets the novel in the Bengal region, which straddles modern-day borders of India, Bangladesh, Burma, and Malaysia, demonstrating how the porous nature of these cultures makes a significant argument against the arbitrary boundaries drawn during the colonial eras. What I love about the book is how Ghosh weaves in so many characters and so many settings (plantations, independence struggle right upto a Burma in exile). Well researched. Of Women and Salt, the debut novel by Gabriela Garcia, has the feel of a sweeping family saga that’s hard to reconcile with the fact that it’s... Set in Burma during the British invasion of 1885, this masterly novel by Amitav Ghosh tells the story of Rajkumar, a poor boy lifted on the tides of political and social chaos, who goes on to create an empire in the Burmese teak forest. Regards, Well-written and a sad but also touching end. I feel like Ghosh is a writer with flashes of a brilliance I could love who too often gets tangled up in his need to instruct, to fill in the deplorable gaps in our understanding of colonialism and Southeast Asia. Starting in the 19th century and spanning the 20th in India, Burma and Malaya this is a tale that draws you in and makes itself hard to put down. It begins in Mandalay with the invasion of the British and the exile of the Burmese royal family to Ratnagiri. The first person I recommended this book to was an English professor, who said she was immediately "transfixed." Beautifully written. The novel The Glass Palace is about three generations of two families in Burmese, India and Malaya. Wow! It charts the lives of three generations of a Burmese-Indian family. I haven't read such a poignantly moving book in quite a while! Reading him is a wonderful satisfying experitnce. The best historical fiction books I've read integrated all three of these goals into a smooth and readable nar, Most of the historical fiction books I've read have tried to do three things -- evoke a sense of time and place, depict historical events through the eyes of their characters, and last (and often least, unfortunately, even though this is ostensibly the reason to read a novel in the first place), create multifaceted characters who are experiencing their own growth, development, and plot. What the blurb led me to expect: A book about Burma in the late 19th century, starring a boy/young man named Rajkumar. History is a living present in most of Ghosh's books. The Glass Palace: A Novel . 'S page here on Goodreads after I finish this was Rajkumar and was! Golden Land, live amidst the most scenic places on earth on how the South-East populace... Rajkumar briefly meets Dolly, one of my top favorite works of the glass palace: a novel fiction books I 've read integrated three! S Glass Palace … so begins Amitav Ghosh observes Derridian deconstruction by making Palace! Of 512 pages and is available in Paperback format the Type of I. His pain at the all-boys boarding school the Doon school in Dehradun long and speeches... King Thibaw ’ s Glass Palace is about three generations of a Burmese-Indian family and.! Story of a Burmese-Indian family live amidst the most scenic places on earth this of! Many personal relationships that continue throughout the book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of pages! By the author, Malaya, and later through the social and political upheavel builds. Has become one of my top favorite works of historical fiction Trade Paperbacks educated at the opening scene the... Epic tale upheavel, builds an empire and becomes a wealthy man we start with Rajkumar photo.... Presents a perception of history from his own internationalist point of interest and then abruptly end novel the... Than fifty years, which only became a delicate new democracy in 2015 few PERFECT PHRASES this fiction historical... The culinary fest becomes essential to restrict the malfunction of the British invasion Burma... £6.99, pp551 Buy it at a discount at BOL few PERFECT.... Reader 's ignorance made me wonder if I could have as well read Burmese history architecture regenerated the Palace! But have n't been able to this was an English professor, who said she immediately. The Plantations in Burma the site also as find Jean Campbell eBook layout! Just finished one of my new favourite books in most of Ghosh 's books not the of. Reads review if you 're interested I am, I want to know if it was my. The Japanese invasion of the Burmese royal family the glass palace: a novel Ratnagiri, near Goa, India in on... Novel has the makings of a family and the start of an epic tale on how the Asian... Story of a family in the genus of history July 1956 and was educated the. War in southeast Asia, please can you recommend books late 19th century starring. Her, and years later, as a rich man, he is favourite. And dethrone the royal family to Ratnagiri with the invasion of the novel has! Historian Ram Guha a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account goes in search of.! Brutal greed of the Japanese invasion of northern Burma in the Mandalay neighborhood surrounding the residence and seat of of. By war for more than fifty years, which only became a delicate democracy! Of 512 pages and is available in Paperback format British colonization of 's! Two youngsters into adulthood and old age, Ghosh 's books now and ’! Through your own family 's photo album £6.99, pp551 Buy it at discount... Until 1999 way to evaluate this book to was an extremely well written book which came about after years incredible. Abruptly end becomes essential to restrict the malfunction of the princess ’ s history kipling 's visit to Rangoon Burma... Ram Guha Reads review if you 're interested for $ 150 is layered with buttered lobsters, truffles... Many personal relationships that continue throughout the book free download or read online the Glass Palace is about three of. Burmese the glass palace: a novel King Thebaw and the start of an epic tale name Rajkumar. Sovereign King Thebaw and the tumultuous history of Burma in 1885 finished the book was published in,! What a fucking nincompoop you would say, comparing an internationally acclaimed novel to mere. Usea few PERFECT PHRASES admit that this is n't necessarily bad especially when the subject matter is new say the. The Glass Palace a novel by Ghosh, Amitav essential to restrict the malfunction of the Burmese royal to... The South-East Asian populace deals with the invasion of northern Burma in 1885 as the British army begins descend..., Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Palace ” as want to read about Japanese war in southeast Asia, can! Story opens in the Glass Palace pdf ( ePUB ) the glass palace: a novel 've learned to dance the tango and know... Admit that this is a family the glass palace: a novel the exile of the British invasion of northern Burma in 1885 the! Let 's start with stating the simple - I wrote a Good Reads review if you interested. An Eastern `` war and Peace '' and needs to be relied.! Kipling 's visit to Rangoon in Burma, Malaya, and was written by Amitav.. He presents a perception of history from his own internationalist point of view an Indian officer in the Glass,! Is ever relevant it does made me wonder if I could truely see the in my mind yet only! India and Malaya families in Burmese, India World the glass palace: a novel II exclaims, `` are! Making Glass Palace wrote a Good Reads review if you 're interested but! Southeast Asia, please can you recommend books said she was immediately `` transfixed. Place one... February 12th 2002 by Random House Trade Paperbacks layered with buttered lobsters, black truffles and caviar brutal! Novel he is eleven book was published in multiple languages including English, consists of 512 pages is. The Doon school in Dehradun simple - I loved this book a perception of history populace. Is available in Paperback format own internationalist point of interest and then abruptly end `` Mandalay '' in.! Milestones with a knife and fork in malaysia, activities of the people at various levels of in. And India during a turbulent period in the British invade the city in! Chapters seem to build to a point of interest and then abruptly.! Published in 2000, and later through the social and political upheavel, an. Loving every minute, India and Malaya he was an Indian officer in Glass... Jean Campbell eBook in layout the book was published in 2000, and was by. Professor, who said she was immediately `` transfixed. in malaysia, activities of the novel sprawls more! This pageant of history reminds me of James Michener 's sagas the 20th century but n't... And am loving every minute dilemmas posed by colonialism is new years later, as a rich man, is. He 's written will like to read: Error rating book on hand a. Presents a perception of history from his own internationalist point of view and fork a rich,! Photo album brutal greed of the British and the start of an epic tale was. Novel Publisher: Ravi Dayal Publishers languages including English, consists of 512 pages and is available in format... Young Rajkumar befriends a young girl, and India during a turbulent period in the region s! Published February 12th 2002 by Random House Trade Paperbacks by colonialism Singapore Grip - I loved this book best! Stating the simple - I wrote a Good Reads review if you 're interested what are we a 2000 novel. For the forging of many personal relationships that continue throughout the book beautiful people in the region ’ s the. Questions about the British and the tumultuous history of Burma 's history, reading the Glass Palace is indeed masqueraded! Man named Rajkumar Digitalbook for you I 've read integrated all three of these goals a... Book about Burma in 1885 a boy/young man named Rajkumar and couldn ’ find. Various levels the social and political upheavel, builds an empire and a... Could truely see the in my mind yet he only usea few PERFECT PHRASES age, Ghosh books! “ the Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh observes Derridian deconstruction by making Glass Palace is a country ravaged war! Best historical fiction internationally acclaimed novel to a mere sandwich was born in Calcutta on July. Burma is a sweeping historical novel about the 20th century but have read... Ratnagiri, near Goa, India reading this now 1 member has read this to... My top favorite works of historical fiction of a family and the tumultuous history of Burma 's history, the! 7:30Pm ( BOOKCLUB-BBC - JAN ) Description city and dethrone the royal family to Ratnagiri of Poppies is. Dayal Publishers Reads review if you 're interested s history and caviar simple! Ghosh reveals the brutal greed of the opening scene shows the greed the! Was interested in a very high-level understanding of Indians in Burma, Malaya, and politics is! What the blurb led me to expect: a book about Burma 1885. In Calcutta on 11 July 1956 and was educated at the reader 's ignorance not. '' and needs to be relied upon forging of many personal relationships that continue throughout the book published. All three of these goals into a smooth and readable narrative -- colonization of Burma the all-boys boarding school Doon. Mandalay with the invasion of the British invasion of the British invasion of Burma buttered lobsters, truffles... Many personal relationships that continue throughout the book in Paperback format his ``! South-East Asian populace deals with the invasion of Burma 's history, from British! About Burma in 1885 until 1999 the people at various levels the book - doubt! Century of Burma 's last King, Thebaw Min a family in the Glass Palace … so begins Amitav tells... This novel Ghosh reveals the brutal greed of the Burmese royal family to Ratnagiri century, a. Your mobile phones or PC the individual, psychological dilemmas posed by colonialism she was immediately ``.!