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| themes in palace of illusions: The Forest of Enchantments Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2019-01-07 'One of the most strikingly lyrical voices writing about the lives of Indian women' -- Amitav Ghosh 'Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni turns the Ramayana around by telling it in the voice of Sita ... this inversion is a gift - it presents us a with a way to know an already well-known story better and to love an already beloved story more' -- Arshia Sattar 'This inspired evocation of the goddess Sita is an epic song of strength and solidarity told with joy and intensity. It brings to life the personalities and predicaments of the Ramayana' -- Namita Gokhale 'Among the many, many Ramayanas there are now even - thankfully - some Sitayanas, but I know of none with the special magic that Chitra Divakaruni ... brings to the telling' -- Philip Lutgendorf 'Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's Sita ... is an epitome of courage and self-respect, showing a path for all women. While weaving a familiar story, Chitra provides deep and surprising insights' -- Volga 'An incomparable storyteller' -- Denver Post 'Divakaruni's stories are irresistible' -- The New York Times Book Review 'Divakaruni's storytelling talents put her right up there with the best' -- Miami Herald 'In recasting the Ramayan as a love story Divakaruni accords Sita parity with Ram, revealing her innate strength. By giving primacy to her thoughts and feelings this also becomes the private tale of Shri and Shrimati Ramchandra Raghuvanshi, two wonderful people who loved each other but who broke up. To readers well-acquainted with that tragedy of modern times, the failed marriage, it will appeal. The ending, however, surpasses all expectations.' -- The Sunday Standard 'The success of both The Palace Of Illusions and The Forest Of Enchantments hinges acutely on the skill with which Divakaruni deploys the narratorial voice.' -- Mint 'The Forest of Enchantments is one of the simplest and most beautiful retellings of Sage Valmiki's epic.' -- Jetwings 'Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni does justice to the women of Ramayana ... The Forest of Enchantments is not just a retelling of a much-told epic, rather it is a book that tells it like it is - balanced and non-judgmental.' -- Huffpost 'A work ... of pluralities and possibilities ... This is the Sitayan we will give to our daughters, that they may imbibe Sita's strength, and even more proudly to our sons, who will learn how a woman is to be treated' -- The Wire 'Banerjee is markedly feminist ... Her spin on the most pivotal moment of Sita's life, the agnipariksha episode, is a moment of feminist brilliance. Her Sita answers all the questions we would have had when listening to the Ramayana while leaving us with plenty of food for thought.' -- The New Indian Express 'Divakaruni's retelling reminds her readers that the Ramayana, besides being a morality tale, is a love story at its heart' -- Huffpost 'Divakaruni and her women characters are a formidable pair' -- The Wire The 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!' |
| themes in palace of illusions: Oleander Girl Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2013-03-19 Beloved bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni has been hailed by Abraham Verghese as a “gifted storyteller” and by People magazine as a “skilled cartographer of the heart.” Now, Divakaruni returns with her most gripping novel yet, a sweeping, suspenseful coming-of-age tale about a young woman who leaves India for America on a search that will transform her life. THOUGH SHE WAS ORPHANED AT BIRTH, the wild and headstrong Korobi Roy has enjoyed a privileged childhood with her adoring grandparents, spending her first seventeen years sheltered in a beautiful, crumbling old mansion in Kolkata. But despite all that her grandparents have done for her, she is troubled by the silence that surrounds the circumstances of her parents’ death and clings fiercely to her only inheritance from them: the love note she found, years ago, hidden in a book of poetry that had belonged to her mother. As she grows, Korobi dreams of one day finding a love as powerful as her parents’, and it seems her wish has finally come true when she meets the charming Rajat, the only son of a high-profile business family. Shortly after their engagement, however, a sudden heart attack kills Korobi’s grandfather, revealing serious financial problems and a devastating secret about Korobi’s past. Shattered by this discovery and by her grandparents’ betrayal, Korobi decides to undertake a courageous search across post-9/11 America to find her true identity. Her dramatic, often startling journey will ultimately thrust her into the most difficult decision of her life. With flawless narrative instinct and a boundless sympathy for her irrepressible characters, in Oleander Girl Divakaruni brings us a perfect treat of a novel— moving, wise, and unforgettable. As The Wall Street Journal raves, “Divakaruni emphasizes the cathartic force of storytelling with sumptuous prose. . . . She defies categorization.” |
| themes in palace of illusions: Queen of Dreams Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2005-10-11 From the bestselling author of Sister of My Heart comes a spellbinding tale of mothers and daughters, love and cultural identity. Rakhi, a young painter and single mother, is struggling to come to terms with her relationship with ex-husband Sonny, a hip Bay Area DJ, and with her dream-teller mother, who has rarely spoken about her past or her native India. Rakhi has her hands full, juggling a creative dry spell, raising her daughter, and trying to save the Berkeley teahouse she and her best friend Belle own. But greater challenges are to come. When a national tragedy turns her world upside down and Rakhi needs her mother’s strength and wisdom more than ever, she loses her in a freak car accident. But uncovering her mother’s dream journals allows Rakhi to discover her mother’s long-kept secrets and sacrifices–and ultimately to confront her fears, forge a new relationship with her father, and revisit Sonny’s place in her heart. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Before We Visit the Goddess Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2017-04-25 A new novel from the author of Oleander Girl, a novel in stories, built around crucial moments in the lives of 3 generations of women in an Indian/Indian-American Family-- |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Book of Illusions Paul Auster, 2003 A man's obsession with a silent-film star sends him on a journey into a shadow world of lies, illusions, and unexpected love Six months after losing his wife and two young sons in an airplane crash, Vermont professor David Zimmer spends his waking hours mired in a blur of alcoholic grief and self-pity. Then, watching television one night, he stumbles upon a clip from a lost silent film by comedian Hector Mann. Zimmer's interest is piqued, and he soon finds himself embarking on a journey around the world to research a book on this mysterious figure, who vanished from sight in 1929 and has been presumed dead for sixty years. When the book is published the following year, a letter turns up in Zimmer's mailbox bearing a return address from a small town in New Mexico-supposedly written by Hector's wife. Hector has read your book and would like to meet you. Are you interested in paying us a visit? Is the letter a hoax, or is Hector Mann still alive? Torn between doubt and belief, Zimmer hesitates, until one night a strange woman appears on his doorstep and makes the decision for him, changing his life forever. This stunning novel plunges the reader into a universe in which the comic and the tragic, the real and the imagined, the violent and the tender dissolve into one another. With The Book of Illusions, one of America's most powerful and original writers has written his richest, most emotionally charged work yet. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Mistress of Spices Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 1997 Tilo, an immigrant from India, runs an Indian spice shop in Oakland, California. While she dispenses the classic ingredients for curries and kormas, she also helps her customers to gain a more precious commodity- whatever they most desire. For Tilo is a Mistress of Spices, a priestess of the secret, magical powers of spices. Through those who visit and revisit her shop - Ahuja's wife, caught in an unhappy, abusive marriage; Jagjit, the victim of racist attacks at school; the noisy bougainvillaea girls, rejecting the strict upbringing of their tradition-bound Indian parents; Haroun who drives a taxi and dreams the American dream - we get a glimpse into the life of the local Indian expatriate community. To each Tilo dispenses wisdom and the appropriate spice- coriander for sight; turmeric to erase wrinkles; cinnamon for finding friends; fenugreek to make a rejected wife desirable again; chillies for the cleansing of evil. But when a lonely American comes into the store, a troubled Tilo cannot find the right spice, for he arouses in her a forbidden desire, and following her own desires will destroy her magical powers. Compelling and lyrical, full of heady scents and with more than a touch of humour, this novel explores the clash between East and West even as it unveils the universal mysteries of the human heart. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Sister Of My Heart Chitra Divakaruni, 2010-08-17 Born in a big old Calcutta house on the same night, the wild, tragic night their fathers were both mysteriously lost, Sudha and Anju are cousins. Closer even than sisters, they share clothes, possessions, worries, dreams - and three mothers, who preside over the matriarchal Chatterjee household. But when Sudha discovers a terrible secret about their past, their mutual loyalty is sorely tested. A family crisis forces the mothers to start the serious business of arranging the girls' marriages, and the inseparable pair are torn apart. Sudha moves to her new family'as home in rural Bengal, while Anju joins her immigrant husband in California. But nothing has prepared them for the pain, aswell as the joy, that each will have to face in her new life. Rooted in Indian folklore and steeped in the mysticism of ancient tales, this bright, jewel-like novel shines its light on the bonds of family, on love and loss, against the realities of traditional arranged marriages, and the adjustments needed for modern life. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Mirror of Fire and Dreaming Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2005-09 Set in contemporary India, as well as several hundred years in the past, thistitle continues the adventures of Anand and his quest to become a full memberof the Brotherhood of the Conch. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Conch Bearer Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2005-03 The acclaimed short-story author and poet transports readers from the teeming streets of India to the rolling Himalayas, in this lyrical, exotic, and rich middle-grade fantasy. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Unknown Errors of Our Lives Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2002-08-13 In nine poignant stories spiked with humor and intelligence, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni captures lives at crossroad moments–caught between past and present, home and abroad, tradition and fresh experience. A widow in California, recently arrived from India, struggles to adapt to a world in which neighbors are strangers and her domestic skills are deemed superfluous in the award-winning “Mrs. Dutta Writes a Letter.” In “The Intelligence of Wild Things,” a woman from Sacramento visits her brother in Vermont to inform him that back in Calcutta their mother is dying. And in the title story, a painter looks to ancient myth and the example of her grandmother for help in navigating her first real crisis of faith. Knowing, compassionate and expertly rendered, the stories in The Unknown Errors of Our Lives depict the eternal struggle to find a balance between the pull of home and the allure of change. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Leaving Yuba City Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 1997 Like Divakaruni's much-loved and bestselling short story collection Arranged Marriage, this collection of poetry deals with India and the Indian experience in America, from the adventures of going to a convent school in India run by Irish nuns (Growing up in Darjeeling) to the history of the earliest Indian immigrants in the U.S. (Yuba City Poems). Groups of interlinked poems divided into six sections are peopled by many of the same characters and explore varying themes. Here, Divakaruni is particularly interested in how different art forms can influence and inspire each other. One section, entitled Indian Miniatures, is based on and named after a series of paintings by Francesco Clemente. Another, called Moving Pictures, is based on Indian films, including Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay and Satyajit Ray's Ghare Baire. Photographs by Raghubir Singh inspired the section entitled Rajasthani. The trials and tribulations of growing up and immigration are also considered here and, as with all of Divakaruni's writing, these poems deal with the experience of women and their struggle to find identities for themselves. This collection is touched with the same magic and universal appeal that excited readers of Arranged Marriage. In Leaving Yuba City, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni proves once again her remarkable literary talents. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Mahabharata Ramesh Menon, 2006-07 The Mahabharata is the more recent of India's two great epics, and by far the longer. First composed by the Maharishi Vyasa in verse, it has come down the centuries in the timeless oral tradition of guru and sishya, profoundly influencing the history, culture, and art of not only the Indian subcontinent but most of south-east Asia. At 100,000 couplets, it is seven times as long as the Iliad and the Odyssey combined: far and away the greatest recorded epic known to man. The Mahabharata is the very Book of Life: in its variety, majesty and, also, in its violence and tragedy. It has been said that nothing exists that cannot be found within the pages of this awesome legend. The epic describes a great war of some 5000 years ago, and the events that led to it. The war on Kurukshetra sees ten million warriors slain, brings the dwapara yuga to an end, and ushers in a new and sinister age: this present kali yuga, modern times. At the heart of the Mahabharata nestles the Bhagavad Gita, the Song of God. Senayor ubhayor madhye, between two teeming armies, Krishna expounds the eternal dharma to his warrior of light, Arjuna. At one level, all the restless action of the Mahabharata is a quest for the Gita and its sacred stillness. After the carnage, it is the Gita that survives, immortal lotus floating upon the dark waters of desolation: the final secret With its magnificent cast of characters, human, demonic, and divine, and its riveting narrative, the Mahabharata continues to enchant readers and scholars the world over. This new rendering brings the epic to the contemporary reader in sparkling modern prose. It brings alive all the excitement, magic, and grandeur of the original - for our times. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Glass Castle Jeannette Walls, 2007-01-02 A triumphant tale of a young woman and her difficult childhood, The Glass Castle is a remarkable memoir of resilience, redemption, and a revelatory look into a family at once deeply dysfunctional and wonderfully vibrant. Jeannette Walls was the second of four children raised by anti-institutional parents in a household of extremes. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Vine of Desire Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2003-02-04 The beloved characters of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s bestselling novel Sister of My Heart are reunited in this powerful narrative that challenges the emotional bond between two lifelong friends, as the husband of one becomes dangerously attracted to the other. Anju and Sudha formed an astounding, almost psychic connection during their childhood in India. When Anju invites Sudha, a single mother in Calcutta, to come live with her and her husband, Sunil, in California, Sudha foolishly accepts, knowing full well that Sunil has long desired her. As Sunil’s attraction rises to the surface, the trio must struggle to make sense of the freedoms of America–and of the ties that bind them to India and to one another. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Last Queen Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2022-05-10 She rose from commoner to become the last reigning queen of India's Sikh Empire. In this dazzling novel, based on true-life events, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni presents the unforgettable story of Jindan, who transformed herself from daughter of the royal kennel keeper to powerful monarch. Sharp-eyed, stubborn, and passionate, Jindan was known for her beauty. When she caught the eye of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, she was elevated to royalty, becoming his youngest and last queen--and his favorite. And when her son, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne, Jindan assumed the regency. She transformed herself from pampered wife to warrior ruler, determined to protect her people and her son's birthright from the encroaching British Empire. Defying tradition, she stepped out of the zenana, cast aside the veil, and conducted state business in public, inspiring her subjects in two wars. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British, fearing an uprising, robbed the rebel queen of everything she had, but nothing crushed her indomitable will. An exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child, and an inspiration for our times, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's novel brings alive one of the most fearless women of the nineteenth century, one whose story cries out to be told. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Tailor's Needle Lakshmi Raj Sharma, 2012-12-01 Cambridge-educated Sir Saraswati Chandra Ranbakshi is a towering public figure in early twentieth century India. A firm believer in the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, he also has faith in the virtues of the British Raj. As a result, he has to mediate between the Maharaja of a princely state and the Viceroy and strike a fine balance between tradition and modernity. This tussle between old and new values is reflected in his three children, the daredevil Maneka, the timid Sita, and their brother, Yogendra, who turns their father’s world upside down by falling in love with a lower-caste girl. A comedy of manners laced with intrigue and excitement, The Tailor’s Needle explores some of the great moral dilemmas of pre-independent India with wit and sensitivity. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Foolish Hearts Emma Mills, 2017-12-05 When Claudia accidentally eavesdrops on the epic breakup of Paige and Iris, the it-couple at her school, she finds herself in hot water with prickly, difficult Iris. Thrown together against their will in the class production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, along with the goofiest, cutest boy Claudia has ever known, Iris and Claudia are in for an eye-opening senior year. Smart, funny, and thoroughly, wonderfully flawed, Claudia navigates a world of intense friendships and tentative romance in Emma Mills's Follish Hearts, a young adult novel about expanding your horizons, allowing yourself to be vulnerable, and accepting—and loving—people for who they really are. |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Lives of Strangers Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2005 Weaving tales of India and of the new settlers in America, Chitra Divakaruni's stories explore themes of solitude, expectations, love and betrayal, as well as other reflections on life in both the East and the West. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Somewhere Towards the End: A Memoir Diana Athill, 2009-12-07 Winner of the 2009 National Book Critics Circle Award in Autobiography and a New York Times bestseller: a prize-winning, critically acclaimed memoir on life and aging —“An honest joy to read” (Alice Munro). Hailed as “a virtuoso exercise” (Sunday Telegraph), this book reflects candidly, sometimes with great humor, on the condition of being old. Charming readers, writers, and critics alike, the memoir won the Costa Award for Biography and made Athill, then ninety-one, a surprising literary star. Diana Athill was one of the great editors in British publishing. For more than five decades she edited the likes of V. S. Naipaul and Jean Rhys, for whom she was a confidante and caretaker. As a writer, Athill made her reputation for the frankness and precisely expressed wisdom of her memoirs. Writing in her ninety-first year, entirely untamed about both old and new conventions (Literary Review) and freed from any of the inhibitions that even she may have once had, Athill reflects candidly, and sometimes with great humor, on the condition of being old—the losses and occasionally the gains that age brings, the wisdom and fortitude required to face death. Distinguished by remarkable intelligence...[and the] easy elegance of her prose (Daily Telegraph), this short, well-crafted book, hailed as a virtuoso exercise (Sunday Telegraph) presents an inspiring work for those hoping to flourish in their later years. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Yajnaseni Pratibha Ray, 2020 |
| themes in palace of illusions: The Devil's Pleasure Palace Michael Walsh, 2017-05-23 In the aftermath of World War II, America stood alone as the world’s premier military power. Yet its martial confidence contrasted vividly with its sense of cultural inferiority. Still looking to a defeated and dispirited Europe for intellectual and artistic guidance, the burgeoning transnational elite in New York and Washington embraced not only the war’s refugees, but many of their ideas as well, and nothing has proven more pernicious than those of the Frankfurt School and its reactionary philosophy of “critical theory.” In The Devil's Pleasure Palace, Michael Walsh describes how Critical Theory released a horde of demons into the American psyche. When everything could be questioned, nothing could be real, and the muscular, confident empiricism that had just won the war gave way, in less than a generation, to a central-European nihilism celebrated on college campuses across the United States. Seizing the high ground of academe and the arts, the New Nihilists set about dissolving the bedrock of the country, from patriotism to marriage to the family to military service. They have sown, as Cardinal Bergoglio—now Pope Francis—once wrote of the Devil, “destruction, division, hatred, and calumny,” and all disguised as the search for truth. The Devil's Pleasure Palace exposes the overlooked movement that is Critical Theory and explains how it took root in America and, once established and gestated, how it has affected nearly every aspect of American life and society. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Moon Palace Paul Auster, 1989 I was the summer that man first walked on the moon. I was very young back then, but I did not believe there would ever be a future... Spanning three generations, Moon Palace is the story of Marco Stanley Fogg and his quest for identity in the modern world. Moving from the concrete canyons of Manhattan to the cruelly beautiful landscape of the American West, it is a meditation on and re-examination of America, art and the self, by one of America's foremost authors. |
| themes in palace of illusions: A Cage in Search of a Bird Florence Noiville, 2021-08-15 Now in paperback, A Cage in Search of a Bird is the gripping story of two women caught in the vise of a terrible delusion. Laura Wilmote is a television journalist living in Paris. Her life couldn't be better--a stimulating job, a loving boyfriend, interesting friends--until her phone rings in the middle of one night. It is C., an old school friend whom Laura recently helped find a job at the same television station: My phone rang. I knew right away it was you. Thus begins the story of C.'s unrelenting, obsessive, incurable love/hatred of Laura. She is convinced that Laura shares her love, but cannot--or will not--admit it. C. begins to dress as Laura, to make her friends and family her own, and even succeeds in working alongside Laura on the unique program that is Laura's signature achievement. The obsession escalates, yet is artfully hidden. It is Laura who is perceived as the aggressor at work, Laura who appears unwell, Laura who is losing it. Even Laura's adoring boyfriend begins to question her. Laura seeks the counsel of a psychiatrist who diagnoses C. with De Clérambault syndrome--she is convinced that Laura is in love with her. And worse, the syndrome can only end in one of two ways: the death of the patient, or that of the object of the obsession. A Cage in Search of a Bird is the gripping story of two women caught in the vise of a terrible delusion. Florence Noiville brilliantly narrates this story of obsession and one woman's attempts to escape the irrational love of another--an inescapable, never-ending love, a love that can only end badly. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Witherward Hannah Mathewson, 2021-02 Age range: 14 to 18 Welcome to the Witherward, and to a London that is not quite like our own. Here, it's summertime in February, the Underground is a cavern of wonders and magic fills the streets. But this London is a city divided, split between six rival magical factions, each with their own extraordinary talents - and the alpha of the Changelings, Gedeon Ravenswood, has gone rogue, threatening the fragile accords that have held London together for decades. Ilsa is a shapeshifting Changeling who has spent the first 17 years of her life marooned in the wrong London, where real magic is reviled as the devil's work. Abandoned at birth, she has scratched out a living first as a pickpocket and then as a stage magician's assistant, dazzling audiences by secretly using her Changeling talents to perform impossible illusions. When she's dragged through a portal into the Witherward, Ilsa finally feels like she belongs. But her new home is on the brink of civil war, and Ilsa is pulled into the fray. The only way to save London is to track down Gedeon, and he just so happens to be Ilsa's long-lost brother, one of the last surviving members of the family who stranded her in the wrong world. Beset by enemies on all sides, surrounded by supposed Changeling allies wearing faces that may not be their own, Ilsa must use all the tricks up her sleeve simply to stay alive. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Valmiki's Ramayana , 2018-04-20 One of India’s greatest epics, the Ramayana pervades the country’s moral and cultural consciousness. For generations it has served as a bedtime story for Indian children, while at the same time engaging the interest of philosophers and theologians. Believed to have been composed by Valmiki sometime between the eighth and sixth centuries BC, the Ramayana tells the tragic and magical story of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, an incarnation of Lord Visnu, born to rid the earth of the terrible demon Ravana. An idealized heroic tale ending with the inevitable triumph of good over evil, the Ramayana is also an intensely personal story of family relationships, love and loss, duty and honor, of harem intrigue, petty jealousies, and destructive ambitions. All this played out in a universe populated by larger-than-life humans, gods and celestial beings, wondrous animals and terrifying demons. With her magnificent translation and superb introduction, Arshia Sattar has successfully bridged both time and space to bring this ancient classic to modern English readers. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Scenes from a Writers Life Ruskin Bond, 2000-10-14 The making of a writer Ruskin Bond's first full-fledged autobiographical book covers his -formative years, ' till the age of twenty-one. The world of Anglo-India, with all its conflicting pulls, comes alive as he tells his story. His earliest memoirs are bitter-sweet, and relate to Jamnager where he lives till he is six. The happy hours spent in exploring the Ram Vilas Palace grounds and playing with his younger sister Ellen and the palace children are overshadowed by the acrimonious relation between his parents. Their estrangement while he is still a child leaves him with a life-long sense of insecurity. His unhappiness is exacerbated by the untimely death of his father his emotional anchor when the author is just ten. Forced to stay with his mother and his stepfather, both of whom are absorbed in their own worlds, he tries to fend off his loneliness through books and the company of a few friends. Left for the most part to himself, the gentle dreamer realizes very early as -a pimply adolescent' his calling as a writer. His first book, The Room on the Roof, materializes in England, the land of his forefathers, where he is sent to make a career for himself. Despite the unexpected success of his novel, which wins a major British literary prize, the author's yearning for India is too powerful to let him remain abroad for long. He returns and begins a writing career which has spanned four decades, and earned him a place in the pantheon of great Indian writers |
| themes in palace of illusions: Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata Simon Brodbeck, Brian Black, 2007-08-09 The Sanskrit Mahabharata is one of the most important texts to emerge from the Indian cultural tradition. At almost 75,000 verses it is the longest poem in the world, and throughout Indian history it has been hugely influential in shaping gender and social norms. In the context of ancient India, it is the definitive cultural narrative in the construction of masculine, feminine and alternative gender roles. This book brings together many of the most respected scholars in the field of Mahabharata studies, as well as some of its most promising young scholars. By focusing specifically on gender constructions, some of the most innovative aspects of the Mahabharata are highlighted. Whilst taking account of feminist scholarship, the contributors see the Mahabharata as providing an opportunity to frame discussion of gender in literature not just in terms of the socio-historical roles of men and women. Instead they analyze the text in terms of the wider poetic and philosophical possibilities thrown up by the semiotics of gendering. Consequently, the book bridges a gap in text-critical methodology between the traditional philological approach and more recent trends in gender and literary theory. Gender and Narrative in the Mahabharata will be appreciated by readers interested in South Asian studies, Hinduism, religious studies and gender studies. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Empress of All Seasons Emiko Jean, 2018-11-08 In a deadly tournament to become empress, any may enter but only one will survive, and one competitor doesn't just plan to win, she's going to steal the Emperor's fortune. . . In each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace's enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, and you can marry the prince. All are eligible to compete - all except yokai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yokai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari's fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yokai outcast. Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: The Official Script Book of the Original West J-K Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany, 2016-08-22 The Eighth Story. Nineteen Years Later. Based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, a new play by Jack Thorne, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and the first official Harry Potter story to be presented on stage. The play will receive its world premiere in London s West End on July 30, 2016. It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Arranged Marriage Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2009-09-15 Although Chitra Divakaruni's poetry has won praise and awards for many years, it is her luminous, exquisitely crafted prose (Ms.) that is quickly making her one of the brightest rising stars in the changing face of American literature. Arranged Marriage, her first collection of stories, spent five weeks on the San Francisco Chronicle bestseller list and garnered critical acclaim that would have been extraordinary for even a more established author. For the young girls and women brought to life in these stories, the possibility of change, of starting anew, is both as terrifying and filled with promise as the ocean that separates them from their homes in India. From the story of a young bride whose fairy-tale vision of California is shattered when her husband is murdered and she must face the future on her own, to a proud middle-aged divorced woman determined to succeed in San Francisco, Divakaruni's award-winning poetry fuses here with prose for the first time to create eleven devastating portraits of women on the verge of an unforgettable transformation. |
| themes in palace of illusions: A Criminal Magic Lee Kelly, 2017-01-31 In Lee Kelly’s “electric” (Publishers Weekly) fantasy novel, two young sorcerers experiment with magic and mobsters in 1920s Prohibition when a new elixir is created that turns their lives upside down. Washington, DC, 1926. Sorcery opponents have succeeded in passing the 18th Amendment, but the Prohibition of magic has only invigorated the city’s underworld. Smuggling rings carry magic contraband in from the coast. Sorcerers cast illusions to aid mobsters’ crime sprees. Gangs have even established “magic havens,” secret venues where the public can lose themselves in immersive magic and consume a mind-bending, highly addictive elixir known as “the sorcerer’s shine.” Joan Kendrick, a young sorcerer from the backwoods of Norfolk County, accepts an offer to work for DC’s most notorious crime syndicate, The Shaw Gang, when her family’s home is repossessed. Alex Danfrey, first-year Federal Prohibition Unit trainee with a complicated past and talents of his own, becomes tapped to go undercover and infiltrate the Shaws. When Joan meets Alex at the Shaws’ magic haven, she discovers a confidante in her fellow partner and he begins to fall under her spell. But when a new breed of the addictive sorcerer’s shine is created within the walls of the magic haven, Joan and Alex are forced to question their allegiances as they become pitted against one another in a dangerous, heady game of cat-and-mouse. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Secret Daughter Shilpi Somaya Gowda, 2011-04-05 Somer’s life is everything she imagined it would be—she’s newly married and has started her career as a physician in San Francisco—until she makes the devastating discovery she never will be able to have children. The same year in India, a poor mother makes the heartbreaking choice to save her newborn daughter’s life by giving her away. It is a decision that will haunt Kavita for the rest of her life, and cause a ripple effect that travels across the world and back again. Asha, adopted out of a Mumbai orphanage, is the child that binds the destinies of these two women. We follow both families, invisibly connected until Asha’s journey of self-discovery leads her back to India. Compulsively readable and deeply touching, Secret Daughter is a story of the unforeseen ways in which our choices and families affect our lives, and the indelible power of love in all its many forms. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Multitude Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 1993 Known for its upbeat approach, MULTITUDE brings together a diverse spectrum of voices and issues that reflect our society. This anthology is divided into 10 broad themes and provides a variety of perspectives on the ways people connect across boundaries of ethnicity, class, gender, age, and geography. The 84 readings include essays, student essays, fiction, poetry, letters, and journals and includes a diversity of lengths and difficulty. The second edition features 40% new selections and more writing activities and assignments that incorporate collaboration and research. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Ashok and the Nine Unknown Anshul Dupare, 2018 |
| themes in palace of illusions: Neela Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, 2002-09-01 In 1939, twelve-year-old Neela meets a young freedom fighter at her sister's wedding and soon after must rely on his help when her father fails to return home from a march in Calcutta against British occupation. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Feminism And Beyond Dr. Harkirat Kaur, 2021-03-11 The book questions patriarchy and the associated feminine power struggle. It traverses through the characters of the mythological Draupadi of the epic Mahabharat - seeing this epic through the eyes of Draupadi - and a Naxalite girl who was named after this mythological character who broke all typical stereotyped thoughts, convictions and conditioning. This book deals with gender stereotyping and breaking the bondages arising out of conditioning thereof. The detailed research done is bound to draw the attention of any reader towards the ease with which one accepts the indoctrination of stereotypical views, particularly of the feminine form as a norm. In this mundane world, where the dominating position in all subtleties is held by the MAN-kind, this book lucidly addresses questions related to feminine stereotyping. It also intrigues the reader regarding identities arising out of such conditioning. |
| themes in palace of illusions: Mrityunjaya, the Death Conqueror Śivājī Sāvanta, 1989 |
| themes in palace of illusions: ENGLISH LITERATURE: A GLOBAL CANVAS OF VOICES, VIEWS AND VISIONS DR.R.KAVITHA, The literary journey is one of infinite depth, diversity, and discovery. English Literature: A Global Canvas of Voices, Views, and Visions seeks to illuminate the rich tapestry of perspectives and insights that English literature has woven over centuries, traversing geographies, cultures, and eras. This collection is an endeavor to explore the unifying and transformative power of literature, which transcends linguistic and cultural boundaries, enabling profound connections across the globe. English literature, in its evolution, has served as a mirror to humanity, reflecting the complexities of human experiences, aspirations, and emotions. From the lyrical cadences of the Romantic poets to the incisive social critiques of modern writers, it offers an expansive canvas where the personal and the universal converge. The voices within this domain resonate with universal truths and particular identities, enriching our understanding of the world and ourselves. This book brings together a kaleidoscope of ideas and interpretations, offering readers an opportunity to delve into the myriad ways literature shapes and is shaped by the society it inhabits. Whether it is the exploration of cultural hybridity in postcolonial writings, the ethical dilemmas presented in dystopian narratives, or the intimate musings of poetic imagination, each contribution in this volume underscores the vitality of English literature in engaging with the most pressing questions of our time. The title, A Global Canvas of Voices, Views, and Visions, underscores the pluralistic ethos of this collection. It celebrates the multiplicity of perspectives that define contemporary literary studies and acknowledges the dynamic interplay of tradition and innovation that sustains the relevance of English literature today. As editors and contributors, we have sought to foster a dialogue that is inclusive, critical, and forward-looking, aiming to inspire scholars, students, and readers to embark on their own literary journeys. Exploring the pages of this book offers an opportunity to inspire, resonate with individual thoughts, and cultivate a fresh appreciation for the boundless scope of English literature. This collection aspires to serve as a bridge, connecting diverse perspectives and encouraging meaningful dialogues within the global literary community |
| themes in palace of illusions: Archetypal Patterns in Poetry Maud Bodkin, 1934 |
| themes in palace of illusions: Environment and Sustainable Development Perspectives and Issues 1. Dr. Rohit Kumar Bargah 2.Dr. Praveen Kumar Sahu 3. Mr. Bodh Ram Chaohan, 2024-07-13 The title of the book “Environment and Sustainable Development: Perspectives and Issues” itself represents that the book is having topics related to current environmental problems and its possible solutions. This edition of book focuses on the issues related to sustainable use and management of natural resources and e-waste management. Several methods to handle a wide spectrum of environmental issues are taken into account in numerous chapters. Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st century. Climate is changing across our planet, largely, as a result of human activities. Some of the book chapters also provide a holistic coverage of the climate change policies and role of India. Climate change and various infectious diseases, proposes a comprehensive set of solutions to resolve various issues related to environment. The impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly severe, natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate, and the gap between the rich and poor is widening. The need for sustainable development has never been more pressing than present. Therefore, this book makes a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation, challenges and opportunities around many critical issues. The chapter in the book explore a wide range of topics related to sustainability, including the role of renewable energy, the need for sustainable agriculture, the importance of community engagement, and the impact of climate change. The authors come from diverse academic and professional backgrounds, and they are expert at their disciplines. The authors come from diverse academic and professional background, and their insight provide a valuable contribution to the ongoing conservation around environmental protection and sustainable development. The editors of this book are to be commended for bringing together such a diverse group of contributors, and for presenting a balanced and nuanced exploration of these complex issues. |
download themes - Microsoft Community
Jan 18, 2024 · Hi Mr429er, I'm Christine, a Windows user like you.I can see here that you would like to download Themes for your Windows.
Where are the downloaded themes saved? - Microsoft Community
4 days ago · I downloaded a few themes (from the microsoft website), then I opened the files that I downloaded and I got the themes. Now I want to create a new theme using some pictures of …
How to get more desktop themes for Windows 10?
Jun 9, 2025 · For theme settings, select the Start button, then Settings > Personalisation > Themes and select Theme settings. Choose from a default theme. Select Get more themes …
Reset Windows 11 Desktop Theme to Default and Sort Themes
Sep 20, 2024 · HelloI was recently upgraded to Windows 11 Enterprise System Version 23H2 (Build 22631.4169)I installed and used several free themes from the Microsoft Store. Would …
Default themes disappeared in Windows 11 - Microsoft Community
Feb 19, 2025 · Open File Explorer and navigate to this path: C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. Are the default theme files (such as Windows.theme, aero.theme, etc.) still present? Have you …
New Outlook themes - Microsoft Community
Dec 9, 2024 · Dear Sirs,New outlook themes I cannot use "Light Dark" theme, like grey theme. The Dark theme is to dark and white text is hard to read. Thank you.NRS
Selecting wallpaper in themes for Windows 10. - Microsoft …
Aug 25, 2015 · I understand that you have a few doubts regarding Windows 10 themes. Let me help you resolve the issue. To change the desktop background, tap or click Desktop …
Downloading Themes - Microsoft Community
Jan 12, 2018 · Windows 10 customers can now get Desktop Themes from Microsoft Store. Make sure you’re running Windows 10 on your PC so you don't miss any of the latest free content. If …
themes background pictures stored where? - Microsoft Community
Feb 1, 2019 · The themes of background images are stored in: C: \ Users \ UserName \ AppData \ Local \ Windows \ Themes To access them you must have activated the option Show files, …
How do I reset display, colours, background to default?
Feb 15, 2018 · Having tried to change back to the original background colours etc I cannot see how to go back to the default settings. Please help.
download themes - Microsoft Community
Jan 18, 2024 · Hi Mr429er, I'm Christine, a Windows user like you.I can see here that you would like to download Themes for your Windows.
Where are the downloaded themes saved? - Microsoft Community
4 days ago · I downloaded a few themes (from the microsoft website), then I opened the files that I downloaded and I got the themes. Now I want to create a new theme using some pictures of …
How to get more desktop themes for Windows 10?
Jun 9, 2025 · For theme settings, select the Start button, then Settings > Personalisation > Themes and select Theme settings. Choose from a default theme. Select Get more themes …
Reset Windows 11 Desktop Theme to Default and Sort Themes
Sep 20, 2024 · HelloI was recently upgraded to Windows 11 Enterprise System Version 23H2 (Build 22631.4169)I installed and used several free themes from the Microsoft Store. Would …
Default themes disappeared in Windows 11 - Microsoft Community
Feb 19, 2025 · Open File Explorer and navigate to this path: C:\Windows\Resources\Themes. Are the default theme files (such as Windows.theme, aero.theme, etc.) still present? Have you …
New Outlook themes - Microsoft Community
Dec 9, 2024 · Dear Sirs,New outlook themes I cannot use "Light Dark" theme, like grey theme. The Dark theme is to dark and white text is hard to read. Thank you.NRS
Selecting wallpaper in themes for Windows 10. - Microsoft …
Aug 25, 2015 · I understand that you have a few doubts regarding Windows 10 themes. Let me help you resolve the issue. To change the desktop background, tap or click Desktop …
Downloading Themes - Microsoft Community
Jan 12, 2018 · Windows 10 customers can now get Desktop Themes from Microsoft Store. Make sure you’re running Windows 10 on your PC so you don't miss any of the latest free content. If …
themes background pictures stored where? - Microsoft Community
Feb 1, 2019 · The themes of background images are stored in: C: \ Users \ UserName \ AppData \ Local \ Windows \ Themes To access them you must have activated the option Show files, …
How do I reset display, colours, background to default?
Feb 15, 2018 · Having tried to change back to the original background colours etc I cannot see how to go back to the default settings. Please help.
