Friday, October 28, 2011

Love Gone with the Wind? Try Zemindar


by Jamie Freveletti

Don't you wonder why some books gain iconic status while others, equally as wonderful, don't? ZEMINDAR is one of those books. A sweeping historical epic that accurately portrays life in India at the time of the Sepoy Mutiny (1st Indian War of Independence) of 1857. If you thought our own Civil War was bloody, read about the residence at Lucknow when under siege.

Valerie Fitzgerald's family lived in India and her portrayal of both the country and the historical facts surrounding the uprising is fascinating. The book is long--I think over 800 pages, but you won't notice. You'll be fighting along with both the Indians and English, because she shows how the mutiny is instigated by foolish decisions.

The story begins with Laura Hewitt, a single, poor relation to her cousin Emily heading from England to India on a trip. Emily marries Charles, and Laura goes with them to India for what she believes will be a vacation. Charles is related to Oliver Erskine, a powerful zemindar, which is the term for wealthy landowners in India. Zemindars not only ran massive estates, but meted out justice and controlled vast areas of land. Oliver is one of the wealthiest.

Laura slowly becomes fascinated with both Oliver and India. She embraces the country even as it begins to unravel and she and Oliver, Emily, Charles and their servants slowly reveal their true characters when they are tested by war. Fitzgerald's descriptions of the battle scenes, the siege at Lucknow, and the political bumbling and outright criminal behavior gives a compelling description of a bloody stage in India and England's history.

If you've read the FLASHMAN series by George McDonald Fraser you know how interesting the history of English occupation in various countries can be. While Fraser's protagonist is an anti-hero, Oliver Erskine is more akin to a Rhett Butler than Flashman, and Fitzgerald's Laura Hewitt begins as a quiet woman whose intelligence and fearlessness during a violent time causes you to root for her. She's no Scarlet--she's neither foolish nor vain. Instead she's more akin to an Elizabeth Bennett of Pride and Prejudice.

Watching Oliver and Laura fight off hordes of attackers and flee through India makes for a classic action adventure novel. That the war they are fleeing was real makes it all that more gripping.

You'll love this book. Valerie Fitzgerald never wrote another. I don't know why, but this one is a tour de force.




18 comments:

Lori Rader-Day said...

So how did you discover this book? Seems so different from outfit work.

Unknown said...

What drew you to this book, Jamie? Sounds like quite an interesting historical fiction piece.

Jamie Freveletti said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jamie Freveletti said...

Hi Lori and ME. This is my second try at posting (computer issues).

I saw that THE NINTH DAY was described as an action adventure with a female protagonist (and I agree) and I started to think of others I had read.

I'm also working--in between writing Emma #4 and Ludlum--on a historical thriller of my own. This book showed me what could be done with real facts. Wonderful!

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Kelly Robinson said...

I have a lot of bookstore customers asking for antebellum recommendations. I'll have to steer them toward this one.

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Zemindar was so nice, this one article seems different from others, you done a great work.

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Thanks for sharing this love story i enjoyed while reading this beacuse its not like all love stories,there is many thing different in this case they told how a boy love this poor girl just because of her simplicity he likes him,and decided to marry her.great story

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Wow,what a great story "LOVE GONE WITH WIND" i never read book like this its amazing and i enjoyed allot while reading this,Thanks allot for this great post.

Jamee Dereus said...

Hey you describe whole story in your own words or also tells everything very easily i enjoyed reading this article just because of yours nice words.

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Its a nice story after a very long time i found this type of love story.Jamie write this by his heart because so deep emotions he showing here also written with easy wordings didnt feel any difficulty in understanding this.

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