The Last Queen

A Novel of Courage and Resistance

By: Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

Narrated by: Sneha Mathan

WINNER of the 2022 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN AWARD for BEST FICTION OF THE YEAR!

LONGLISTED for 2022 DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD!

She rose from commoner to become the last reigning queen of India’s Sikh Empire. In this dazzling novel, based on true-life events, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni presents the unforgettable story of Jindan, who transformed herself from daughter of the royal kennel keeper to powerful monarch.

Sharp-eyed, stubborn, and passionate, Jindan was known for her beauty. When she caught the eye of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, she was elevated to royalty, becoming his youngest and last queen—and his favorite. And when her son, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne, Jindan assumed the regency. She transformed herself from pampered wife to warrior ruler, determined to protect her people and her son’s birthright from the encroaching British Empire.

Defying tradition, she stepped out of the zenana, cast aside the veil, and conducted state business in public, inspiring her subjects in two wars. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British, fearing an uprising, robbed the rebel queen of everything she had, but nothing crushed her indomitable will.

An exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child, and an inspiration for our times, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel brings alive one of the most fearless women of the nineteenth century, one whose story cries out to be told.

Fabulous narration and story!

Chitra, Banerjee is a truly prolific writer. The story just carries you through the turbulence and the glory, the magnificence and the amazing history of magical India. The narration is superb. The artist who narrates is one of the biggest selling points as well, for choosing to listen to this magnificent book. I recommend it highly to everyone.

wonderful and historically accurate.

This book and its heroine where fascinating and inspiring. I am pleased to discover that it is also historically accurate after some research. These characters are truly brought to life in such a way that I will never forget them.

The pride and loyalty of the Queen to her homeland. Her courage and persistence.

I married into a Punjabi family and could identify with the protagonists in the story. The story held my interest throughout.

Love the story and the daring queen

An unsung hero Rani Jind Kaur. Love her guts from childhood and how she played it to her strengths and lived the wild ride life took her from. Dint expect to come across the story of our beloved diamond Kohinoor and how it made its way to London. I really wished she didn’t go to London.

Unknown History

It is astounding and fulfilling to read such beautiful prose highlighting the vast history of our world without the white washing of Western oppression.