The Mulberry Courtesan
In 1857, the shadows are falling thick and fast on what is left of the Mughal empire. The last emperor, Bahadur Shah Zafar, is a broken, bitter man in his eighties who has retreated into religion and poetry. Zafar�s empire extends no further than the precincts of his grand palace, the Red Fort in Delhi, but this hasn�t prevented numerous court intrigues and conspiracies from flourishing within the Lal Qila; these involve the emperor�s wives, children, courtiers, hangers-on and English functionaries among others. Flung into this poison pit is Laale, a young woman from an Afghan noble family, abducted from her home in the mountains and sold into the Mughal emperor�s court as a courtesan. Fiery, independent and beautiful, the �mulberry courtesan� captures the ageing emperor�s heart, giving him hope and happiness in his last years. Told against the backdrop of India�s great revolt of 1857 and the last days of the Mughal empire, The Mulberry Courtesan is an epic tale of romance, tragedy, courage and adventure.
Categories: Fiction
