Harper Collins India Ivory Throne: Chronicles of the House of Travancore
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(as of Dec 16, 2024 02:50:05 UTC – Details)
In 1498, when Vasco da Gama set foot in Kerala looking for Christians and spices, he unleashed a wave of political fury that would topple local powers like a house of cards. The cosmopolitan fabric of a vibrant trading society – with its Jewish and Arab merchants, Chinese pirate heroes and masterful Hindu Zamorins – was ripped apart, heralding an age of violence and bloodshed. One prince, however, emerged triumphant from this descent into chaos. Shrewdly marrying Western arms to Eastern strategy, Martanda Varma consecrated the dominion of Travancore, destined to become one of the most dutiful pillars of the British Raj. What followed was two centuries of internecine conflict in one of India’s premier princely states, culminating in a dynastic feud between two sisters battling to steer the fortunes of their house on the eve of Independence. Manu S. Pillai’s retelling of this sprawling saga focuses on the remarkable life and work of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the last – and forgotten – queen of the House of Travancore. The supporting cast includes the flamboyant painter Raja Ravi Varma and his wrathful wife, scheming matriarchs of ‘violent, profligate and sordid’ character, wife-swapping court favourites, vigilant English agents, quarrelling consorts and lustful kings. Extensively researched and vividly rendered, The Ivory Throne conjures up a dramatic world of political intrigues and factions, black magic and conspiracies, crafty ceremonies and splendorous temple treasures, all harnessed in a tragic contest for power and authority in the age of empire.
Publisher : Harper Collins India; 1st edition (25 November 2015); HarperCollinsPublishers Australia
Language : English
Paperback : 704 pages
ISBN-10 : 9351776425
ISBN-13 : 978-9351776420
Item Weight : 837 g
Dimensions : 15.24 x 6.35 x 23.5 cm
Country of Origin : USA
Net Quantity : 1.00 count
Generic Name : Books
Customers say
Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the interesting narration that explains the history of Travancore well. The research is thorough, with adequate facts and references. Overall, customers describe the book as an informative and comprehensive study about Travancore Royal House politics.
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