When we read history, we can understand what happened, and when we read historical novels, we can see history before our eyes. The Last Queen is such a fantastic retelling. In this article, we bring the book review of The Last Queen.
About the Book
Title: The Last Queen
Author: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Genre: Historical Fiction, Feminism, Romance, Indian Literature
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 372 pages
Goodreads rating: 4/5
The story of Rani Jindan Kaur, the mother of Khalsa, is the protagonist of this book. She is the fierce queen whom history has forgotten. As the regent of her son, she defied the tradition of stepping out of the zenana and conducting royal business in public. The sharp-eyed and passionate queen led the Khalsa forces into war and did not give up even after being deprived of her only child. The Last Queen is a story of loyalty, betrayal, and one woman’s indomitable will to protect herself, her child, and her kingdom.
The Last Queen: Spoiler Free Book Review
Okay, so imagine you’re diving into this epic story that’s split into four parts: girl, bride, queen, and rebel. Sounds like a pretty intense life, right? Each of these sections is like a new chapter in the queen’s journey, and trust me, every phase is packed with drama, twists, and some seriously memorable characters.
The book is structured into small subheadings that showcase the most epic moments of her life, which is awesome. It creates a sequence of suspenseful scenes that grip your attention and leave you yearning to uncover what unfolds next as you eagerly flip through the pages.
These events explicitly shape the nature of the queen who rises and becomes the last queen of Raja Ranjit Singh.
The queen’s perspective is now shared in the story, allowing for an effortless connection with her. You experience every moment by her side as she navigates through life’s highs and lows – from first love to discovering herself, amidst a whirlwind of emotions. Through her eyes, we get answers to all those “what really happened back then?” questions.
“I may be injured; I may even be wounded to the heart; but I’m not defeated yet.”
The Last Queen, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni,
One thing that stands out is how well-researched this book is. Sure, the author takes some creative detours, but overall, it feels like you’re getting the real deal. The queen’s impulsive decisions? Yeah, they bring down an empire, making her both unstoppable and flawed at the same time. You might find yourself torn between cheering for her and shaking your head.
And get this—while history usually shows that polygamous marriages meant no friendship between wives, this book imagines a world where they actually got along. It’s like the author is saying, “Hey, wouldn’t it be nice if things had been this way?” And honestly, it kind of makes you wish it had.
“People revered his father as the Lion of Punjab, but his mother is the one they should have called Lioness.”
The Last Queen, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni,
Now, let’s talk about the cover—absolutely stunning. Picture an elegant Queen Jindan staring right at you, almost daring you to dive into her story. And Chitra, the author, has this beautiful, almost musical way of writing that just flows, making it hard to put the book down.
This is a straightforward narrative about a woman. Yet behind it is a person who longs, believes, achieves, stumbles, and loses but never lets life dictate her. Her life is a testament that being a feminist is a way of life. Honestly, Jindan could be any of us, no matter where or when we are.
Conclusion
Rating: 4 / 5
Recommendation: This book is a great read, and I highly recommend it. This book is exceptional and a must-read for those who have a knack for historical retellings. Especially if you’re curious about the last queen of the Khalsa—this book is calling your name!
About the Author
Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an Indian-American author, poet, and the Betty and Gene McDavid Professor of Writing at the University of Houston Creative Writing Programme. Divakaruni’s novel The Palace of Illusions was a national bestseller in India for over a year and is a retelling of the Indian epic The Mahabharata from Draupadi’s point of view.
Link to The Last Queen by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni:
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