A Far Horizon

A Far Horizon

by Meira Chand (Author)

Synopsis

In 1756 Calcutta is a city on the brink of Empire. In White Town Chief Magistrate Holwell and his arch-rival Governor Drake must unite to outwit the dangerous schemes of the Murshidabad Court. In Black Town the half-caste girl Sati, believed to be possessed by the Goddess Kali, becomes the centre of a religious cult. Her grandmother, Jaya, and her promiscuous mother, Rita, married to the Frenchman Demonteguy, battle for possession of her. Shuttled between the two towns of Calcutta, yet belonging to neither, Sati is in search of her identity. Many fall under her spell, including Emily, the Governors wife. In far off Murshidabad the new nawab is interested only in ridding India of the British and their growing threat to his country. He descends on Calcutta with a huge army. Locked into Fort William with a large number of the Black Town population the British residents plan their escape. Their attempt to flee infuriates the nawab and ends in the notorious incident of the Black Hole of Calcutta. This ambitious novel explores a town divided by race and culture and the prejudices that would soon, after the Battle of Plassey, grow unchecked in the era of Empire.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Publisher: W&N
Published: 10 May 2001

ISBN 10: 0297817485
ISBN 13: 9780297817482
Book Overview: Excellent reviews for her previous novels: A Choice of Evils 'Completely absorbing .. a marvellously researched and impressively well-written novel' Frances Donnelly, The Times 'Chand's latest novel shows ... her ability to evoke time and place with the most economical of means...Compelling, harrowing' Trevor Johnston, Time Out Last Quadrant 'This is a novel which will be remembered for a long time, and it will establish Meira Chand's reputation as a very distinguished writer indeed' A.N. Wilson, Spectator

Author Bio
Meira Chand was born and educated in London. Her mother was Swiss and her father Indian. She has lived in Kobe, Japan, for many years and in London. She now lives in Singapore with her husband. A Far Horizon is her seventh novel.