Raj

By: Gita Mehta

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award

With rare subtlety, impressive scope, and a keen eye for detail, Gita Mehta lays bare the complexities of Indian culture and history in Raj, the remarkable story of a woman of royal birth coming of age during India’s fight for independence.

Jaya—the intelligent, beautiful, and compassionate daughter of the Maharajah of Balmer—has been raised in the thousand-year-old tradition of purdah, a strict regime of seclusion, silence, and submission. But with the premature death of her decadent, Westernized husband, Jaya must assume the role of Regent Maharani of Sirpur. She soon finds herself thrust into the center of a roiling political battle which will force Jaya to realize her future as a leader of the Indian people.

©1989 Gita Mehta (P)1998 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Wanda McCaddon colors the novel with her amazing Indian dialects. Recalling the novel, one still hears the varied voices and the energy behind each. She leaves pictures in the listener's mind." ( AudioFile)

Excellent Writing

Not only is the writing excellent but it portrays the events of historical time in India’s development. With the intricacies of the family dynamics, the Royal dynamics, the political dynamics it waves a complex tail and very well read as well excellent.

Great historical fiction

I was so pleased to see this book on audible. This was a favorite book of mine I almost bought the audio on CD and went to the bother of ripping it.
This is good historical fiction. To me that means that the story brings the audience into another time and place, gives you the history/politics through the story of human lives. You get different perspectives. There is a solid balance between what is personal and what is more broadly political.

The performance was excellent. Generally, I tend not to enjoy listening as much to audiobooks read by female performers - I know, I know... but there are several that I do enjoy - I think its a tonal thing? I love Jill Tanner and Rosalyn Landor, for example. And I also enjoyed this. Have listened twice already.