The Glass Palace

By: Amitav Ghosh

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Set in Burma during the British invasion of 1885, this masterly novel by Amitav Ghosh tells the story of Rajkumar, a poor boy lifted on the tides of political and social chaos, who goes on to create an empire in the Burmese teak forest. When soldiers force the royal family out of the Glass Palace and into exile, Rajkumar befriends Dolly, a young woman in the court of the Burmese Queen, whose love will shape his life. He cannot forget her, and years later, as a rich man, he goes in search of her.

The struggles that have made Burma, India, and Malaya the places they are today are illuminated in this wonderful novel by the writer Chitra Divakaruni calls “a master storyteller.”

©2002 Amitav Ghosh (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Ghosh renders the polite imprisonment of the Burmese royal family in India and the lush, dangerous atmosphere of teak camps in the Burmese forest with fine detail––a perfect balance for the broad strokes of romance and serendipity that drive the story forward." ( The New Yorker)

"Ghosh ranges from the condescension of the British colonialists to the repression of the current Myanmar (Burmese) regime in a style that suggests E. M. Forster as well as James Michener. Highly recommended." ( Library Journal)

Excellent

Would you listen to The Glass Palace again? Why?

I might on a long road trip. I typically only read or listen to a book one time... There are too many great stories out there to rehash them.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Too many great characters to list just one.

Any additional comments?

This is well written and performed beautifully. You will not regret the journey.

Wonderful Family Saga Set in Burma and Malaysia

This is a big story written by one of my favorite authors, Amitav Ghosh. He gives the full sweep of history in this region in the 20th century, starting with the end of Burmese royalty, the movement of Indians into the culture of Burma, the horrendous toll of suffering and displacement during WW II, ending with the restrictive political climate of the new "Myanmar". It is told through the intertwined families of the book, a large and intertwined lot. I loved the attention to the characters, and the coming together of many different family connections that span the generations. The characters are quite unique, and the woman are very independent. Ghosh is a great story teller and I would recommend his other books as well. The book's length and detail draw you in, the narrator is very good and brings all the characters alive. It is not a book for someone looking for a fast moving plot, but there is a lot of drama throughout the novel and a fascinating book for a good, long listening experience.

Long book made longer by very little happiness

Only listen if you want a sweeping history of Burma and India. It's well-written and narrated with great detail, but so long! And I found it to be sad on balance.

Fantastic historical novel

The Glass Palace is a masterful work. The best novels wring emotions from their readers. This epic historical novel, at heart a tale of families, brought me to tears. It is a tragic, poignant, heart-rending story. Read it, hug your spouse, cherish your progeny, and learn of the intertwining histories of colonial Burma, India, and Malaya covering a 100-year period, starting with the fall of the last Burmese kingdom in the 1880s at the hands of the British. Amitav Ghosh is a brilliant writer who made me care for each of the well-rounded characters he created, despite their flaws and missteps. Not all authors can pull that off. His characters bristle at their subjugation by the British, but it is not overwrought, and colonialism, and later, Burmese authoritarianism are but narrative threads that create tension but do not overwhelm the family stories. Simon Vance's narration was superb.

Outstanding book

Colorful story told with great feeling. I learned the history of GB and Burma, the battles in Burma during WW11 and the complex relationships of the peoples In t
he area