This book is a radical retelling in two volumes of the ancient Indian epic, The Mahabharata. The narrator of the story, Palmira, places at the heart of her version the mystery of Karna. He was found as a baby, floating in a basket on a river, by a lowly, childless couple who adopted him. The story follows this strange but remarkable boy as he rises from these humble beginnings to become a great warrior, and is embroiled in a simmering conflict between two sets of royal princes.
This retelling aims to be as intriguing to readers who are familiar with the ancient Sanskrit storyline as to those who have no knowledge of the legends: while staying close to the plot skeleton of the original, it is profoundly different, with entirely new tissues fleshing out the ancient bones. It also attempts to capture, but in a modern light, the spirit of philosophical drama contained in the original, and the difficult line we tread between seeing too little and seeing too much.
In spite of its very personal and western perspective, this story hopes to celebrate ancient India’s immense and varied contributions to humanity; but ultimately, the purpose of this fiction is to take you out of reality and then to return you, perhaps to a different place. Have a safe journey back.
Published by Dolman Scott Ltd Cover design ©Siobhan Smith 2016 Cover illustration ©Katy Dynes 2016