The Last Queen By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – Book Review
The Last Queen By Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni – The Tale Of The Transformation Of A Village Girl Into A Warrior Queen
Any mention of India’s struggle for independence is incomplete without commemorating the efforts of its warrior queens.
The Last Queen pays a humbling tribute to one such fighter, Rani Jindan, who despite her simple background, rose to the occasion and fought the British to protect her territory. Written by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, the book tells an inspiring tale of one of the most fearless female fighters in India.
Premise – The Last Queen
Maharaja, Ranjit Singh, took Jindan Kour,the young and beautiful daughter of his royal kennel keeper, as his last wife. After the sudden death of the Maharaja, the young queen became the regent and has to take the reigns of the kingdom in her hands. Her distrust of the British led her to defy tradition and conduct the business of the state publicly. The queen inspired and led her Kahlsa troops in two wars to prevent the Britishers from taking over Punjab. Even though the Britishers looted the queen of everything she held dear, including her freedom and even her son, they failed to crush her strong spirit.
Character Development – The Last Queen
The manner in which the author has presented the character of Rani Jindan is truly praiseworthy. Her choice of words has made it easier for the readers to envision the transformation of a simple village girl into a much-adored queen and then into a fearless warrior. Her strong will, stubbornness, patriotism, and dedication to protecting her son’s heritage all have been beautifully highlighted by the author.
Plot – The Last Queen
The book tells a tale of love and deceptions as well as political conspiracies and the unbreakable bond between a mother and a child. It is divided into four parts, namely Girl, Bride, Queen, and Rebel, with each part detailing a significant phase in the of Rani Jindan. It is an inspiring tale of a warrior queen whose bravery and intellect put her far ahead of her contemporaries.
Writing Style –The Last Queen
The language used by the author is extremely simple and easy to understand. Her choice of words and phrases makes the narrative more interesting and engaging for the readers. The various twists and turns add interest to the storyline and make it truly inspiring.
The cover page design features the image of Rani Jindan and is quite enigmatic and appealing.
Final Verdict – The Last Queen
This is a must-read book for people who love historical fiction and are keen to know more about the female fighters of India and I give it 4.5/5.
This post is a part of Book Marathon by Outset Books
I am participating in #TBRChallenge by Blogchatter
I’ve been reading a lot of mixed reviews of this book. Although I haven’t read many historical fictions I will pick this up as your review has convinced me. Thank you for sharing
I have been recommended this book many times. She was truly a brave fighter. It’s never easy to fight for a bigger purpose. Will get this book.
Rani Jindan, the female fighter, is a new Figure to me. In our history there are tales of many which are unknown to us. Through books, we can know them. My chest is heaved with pride, to know that she fought for our country with bravery.
I haven’t read or heard about this book. I think this is best part of a bookstagrammer as they introduce yourself to the book which a lre hidden into the depths of sea
I like Chitra Kumari Banerjee books and evoking writing. I recently read her new book Independence and God it was so beautiful
I was the book and got the boo recommendation a lot of times and I think it’s high time to pick it up. You have a completely different writing style and I really like it.Thanks for sharing.
The topic of Women as Warriors intrigues me. You have presented a beautiful review, adding the book to my TBR. Thanks!