Mandalay's Child

By Prem Sharma

Devi Lal, a highly regarded physician, lives a charmed life with his daughter and her two young (half Indian, half Irish) children in Mandalay, Burma, when WWII breaks out and the Japanese invade... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1880404206
• ISBN13: 9781880404201
• Release Date: September 2019
• Publisher: Bookwrights Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.5" x 1.0" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A Story of Suffering and Hope...

It all started when I was assigned to write a Senior paper on the little known country of Burma. In search of literature, art, history and economics I found Mandalay's Child and Dr. Prem Sharma. This book is an amazing piece which inspired a theme that I worked through my paper: suffering and hope. In November of 2000, I had to pleasure of meeting Dr. Prem Sharma when he was in my area and visited my class at school. He talked to us about having respect for all people and their personal/religous beliefs and how important it was to realize that fighting does not help situations. Dr. Sharma, who lived in Burma during World War II, was forced to leave with his family because of the Japanense threat to the Burmese people. He moved with his family to India, but here found himself amongst the battle between the Hindus and the Muslims for Pakistan and India. This book is truly a magnificent piece of work and something that all people, whether interested in Burma or not, should read. It gives insight into the lives of the Burmese people, the struggle for their freedom through war, and things that Dr. Sharma has witnessed in his life since the piece is partially biographical. The story is composed in a way so that the reader truly becomes attached to the family in the story. The power that this novel has over the reader is amazing -- you will shed some tears at least twice! Dr. Sharma was a wonderful man to meet in person. He appeared very open to comments and questions about his novel and his homeland of Burma. As I correspond with him in Wisconsin through letters, I find that he is one of the most amazing people I have met in my life because of his talent and what he has been through. As I anxiously await the publication of Dr. Sharma's other parts to the trilogy I urge everyone to pick up this novel and read it for a true experience of Burma and wonderful writing!

Modern Day Freedom Fighter

Prem Sharma's story had me mesmerized from the first paragragh. I felt as though I was sitting with him as he told the story of Devi Lal and his family. Prem Sharma is a modern day freedom fighter, using his intellect and the written word instead of the fists and lathis of his youth. The effect of Gandhi's teaching is evident throughout the story. Can't wait for the sequel!

Tragedy and Triumph - Faith and Hope

Prem Sharma is a master story-teller. I was drawn gently into this beautifully inspiring story on page 1 and held there, totally captivated, until the end. I don't believe the historical events of this period, taking place in the faraway land of India and Burma have ever made center-stage in the world's consciousness. I was totally immersed in each tragedy and triumph, each defeat and victory, each sadness and joy. Throughout it all, I saw the author's vision of faith and hope in humanity. In his telling of this historically accurate drama, Mr. Sharma reflects a vast knowledge and understanding of a variety of cultures and religions, all of which are woven masterfully into the story. He paints a much-needed, vivid picture of some little-known past historical events. As a minister I'm always looking for inspirational material, and I found it abundantly in Mandalay's Child. This book now has an honored place on my bookshelf among many other classics. I anxiously await future writings by this author. I recommend this book as required reading for every student of history, and it should be a must for the Oprah Winfrey Book Club.

An irresistable human story.

I really enjoyed this book. Once I started reading, I literally couldn't put it down. Set in pre World War II Burma as the Japanese are poised to invade, this is a fascinating and compelling account of a Hindu family's struggle to survive during a remarkable time of world war and upheaval. Mandalay's Child is definitely at the top of my list of the best books of 1999.

A bittersweet life-story

Mandalay's Child flows in a way that makes it very difficult to set down. While getting caught up in the story can make it "easy" to read, Prem Sharma has written a thought-provoking and moving book that, in many ways, is not at all emotionally "easy." In a respectful yet honest manner, Sharma describes the love within a family against a background of attrocities within a country. It is a history about which I knew nothing and I will now never forget. I eagerly await the next book in the series.