Maharanis: The Extraordinary Tale of Four Indian Queens and Their Journey from Purdah to Parliament

by Lucy Moore

Book Overview

Here is a rare glimpse behind purdah?s curtain into the lives of four brilliant maharanis-the wives of Maharajas-who helped shepherd princely India into the twentieth century. Tracing the lives of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670033685
• ISBN13: 9780670033683
• Release Date: January 2004
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 351 Pages
• Weight: 1.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Empress!

Maharanis. A book revolving around the lives of three generations. Two grandmothers (Chimanbai & Sunity), a mother (Indira), and a daughter (Ayesha). The author of the book - Lucy Moore - has very nicely recreated the lives of these three generations of the Royal courts of India. Their story takes in grand palaces, tiger & leopard hunts, & expensive ceremonies in India. Also, their international travels. Teamed with rare photos of the royal families of Cooch Behar and Baroda, this book shows how the world changed from the time of Chimanbai & Sunity Devi to Ayesha. It also shows what role these four women played in changing the world they lived in. Remarkably well written.

Life in India During their British Invasion

Interesting book about how the British Empire worked from within to manipulate India during the time of Imperialism. Very interesting.

An incredibly fascinating book

I grew up in Baroda and never knew the extent of its royal history until I read it in this book. It is a lovely story of four amazing women who ruled kingdoms, married men who frequently cheated, had children and even watched them die. I kept reading and reading and got swept up into their world....worlds of glamor, decadence and tragedy. I was glued to the family trees and the photos throughout. The book is all history and is not fiction and that is what makes it great...everything we read is as real as it gets. Moore has painstakingly researched the novel and it shows in every page. My only complaint was the skipping back and forth in time got a little confusing....but still a great novel!

Fascinating Maharanis at large!

Moore delves into the backgrounds, personalities and personal relationships of these four fascinating Indian Maharanis (all blood-connected to the great Gayatri Devi) in such a fresh way that it is a pleasure to read. Full of anecdotes (I loved the stories about "Ma", the Maharani of Cooch Behar). I devoured the whole book in a trans-pacific flight! A shame Moore did not publish more family pictures in the book! R-

Fascinating journey to the bygone days..

This is an excellent book that takes one back to the fascinating dusk of the glorious days of Indian Royals. Lucy Moore writes in her fluid style the story of four Maharani's all the way back from mid 1800s till now. The book gives an unique peek into the dual lives of Maharanis in their zenanas and the high society of Europe. Must read for subcontinental history buffs.