SynopsisThe Ramayana, one of the world’s greatest epics, is also a tragic love story. In this brilliant retelling, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni places Sita at the centre of the novel: this is Sita’s version. The Forest of Enchantments is also a very human story of some of the other women in the epic, often misunderstood and relegated to the margins: Kaikeyi, Surpanakha, Mandodari. A powerful comment on duty, betrayal, infidelity and honour, it is also about women’s struggle to retain autonomy in a world that privileges men, as Chitra transforms an ancient story into a gripping, contemporary battle of wills. While the Ramayana resonates even today, she makes it more relevant than ever, in the underlying questions in the novel: How should women be treated by their loved ones? What are their rights in a relationship? When does a woman need to stand up and say, ‘Enough!’
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Binding: HardBack
About the author
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is the much-loved author of sixteen novels. Her body of work includes the bestsellers like The Palace of Illusions and The Forest of Enchantments. Her books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and two have been turned into films. Divakaruni was born in Kolkata and moved to the United States for her graduate studies. She currently lives in Houston, Texas.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s short story collection, Arranged Marriage won the American Book Award in 1996, and two of her novels (The Mistress of Spices and Sister of My Heart), as well as one short story The Word Love, were adapted into films. The Mistress of Spices was short-listed for the Orange Prize. Currently, Sister of My Heart, Oleander Girl, Palace of Illusions, and One Amazing Thing have all been optioned to be made into movies or TV serials.
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s latest novel The Last Queen is based on the life & times of Queen Jindan Kaur