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deepan2486's review
5.0
Historical fiction is a genre that sparks readers with a lucrative charm, maybe because it establishes a pathway to re-visit the past. Historical fiction isn’t precisely just history, it’s not so factual, neither is it so tactically organized. Likewise, ‘Twilight in a knotted world” seems to be a magnification of the pages of history textbooks that talk of the colonial times.
The main focus of the book is the 19th century India, frivolous and shaking with ambiguous notions of loyalty, foundation, independence and division. It bases itself around an erudite British captain William Henry Sleeman, and the notorious band of dacoits and plunderers called Phansigars, who were known for looting plunderers. But the book isn’t just this. It serves to be a complete exploration of the colonial enterprise at that time, putting up a revealing picture of the changing faces of Indian overruled sentiments, of the prevalent casteism, rigidity of thought and the crudeness of law and order. Sarma’s book isn’t a work rooted deep into just fictional ideologies, it is equally equipped with real-life, true evidences, cutting edge incidental references and even some characters who have actually walked the earth.
Sarma’s viewpoints are marked by a panoramic view of the life of the late 19th century, crafting a fine balance between portraying the British Raj in a neutral light and also highlighting some of the grievances they had invoked within the general public. With a writing style that weaves intricate and many-faceted dimensions of the plot, the author never let’s go of a gratifying simplicity and empathy that flows out of his pen. Gliding over social issues, social evils, fierce patriarchy, harmful caste division and many more—this book convinces us to wrap our heads around history a little more pointedly, and much more sympathetically.
Thanks Simon and Schuster India for the copy.
The main focus of the book is the 19th century India, frivolous and shaking with ambiguous notions of loyalty, foundation, independence and division. It bases itself around an erudite British captain William Henry Sleeman, and the notorious band of dacoits and plunderers called Phansigars, who were known for looting plunderers. But the book isn’t just this. It serves to be a complete exploration of the colonial enterprise at that time, putting up a revealing picture of the changing faces of Indian overruled sentiments, of the prevalent casteism, rigidity of thought and the crudeness of law and order. Sarma’s book isn’t a work rooted deep into just fictional ideologies, it is equally equipped with real-life, true evidences, cutting edge incidental references and even some characters who have actually walked the earth.
Sarma’s viewpoints are marked by a panoramic view of the life of the late 19th century, crafting a fine balance between portraying the British Raj in a neutral light and also highlighting some of the grievances they had invoked within the general public. With a writing style that weaves intricate and many-faceted dimensions of the plot, the author never let’s go of a gratifying simplicity and empathy that flows out of his pen. Gliding over social issues, social evils, fierce patriarchy, harmful caste division and many more—this book convinces us to wrap our heads around history a little more pointedly, and much more sympathetically.
Thanks Simon and Schuster India for the copy.
sapphicwarlord's review
challenging
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
It took me some time to get through it because it got super technical at times, but that was a gooood book. Very rich in history and excellent prose, it has the ability to keep you hooked. There's social issues of caste and equality, the treatement of women and the law, raised in the book, and their ties to the Indian history. The author's way of describing the scenery and the atmosphere is very engaging, makes you feel like you're actually there. The characters are well done and their conversations are deep and nuanced.
sidreviews's review
5.0
The plot of the book is extremely interesting in the manner it is constructed. The author took up the main plotline of the idea of the problem of the Phasigars to talk about our society as a whole. Through the eyes of the characters, we journey through a transitional time in the Indian Modern History. While the plot is fictional, the contexts seem oddly real with the social commentary on the practice of Sati, the Indian Caste system and the idea of creating a penal code for the country. The book opens with an interesting scene that sets the context of the entire book in a very wonderful manner, and specially the callback to the first chapter of the book in the later parts is quite interesting. Siddhartha’s storytelling is not pacy, rather it lets the reader soak in the events that have passed, making sure that one does not miss out on the nitty gritties of the book. I loved the manner in which the central plot of the book unfolded slowly, after setting up the scenes around it. Personally, I loved the part of the book where the salt traders are stopped at the check post and the manner in which things unfold post that. Another aspect of the book that I liked was that of Captain Sleeman’s summary of the events in the climax and how that ties up the entire plot. The story has infact now motivated me to go and read up a bit more about the Thugs of India and the legends that surround them.
Coming to the characters, I admired the manner in which the characters have been sketched through the course of the story and how each scene is important to each character that lives through it. Captain Sleeman is an interesting character study as we see him graduate from looking for bones of animals to searching for the victims of the Phasigars. His eye for detail, and following the letter of the law, and yet choose the right thing on a crossroad is extremely commendable. Another character that I liked was that of his wife, Amelie, who supported Sleeman in all his endeavors, and acted as his moral compass during testing times as well. I liked the fact that she added the much-required human touch to the entire plot. Lastly, the Phasigars as a group add to my list of favorites in the book because of the dedication they had towards their craft, as well as the sheer brilliance of the planning and execution they exhibited in the crimes they committed.
Coming to the characters, I admired the manner in which the characters have been sketched through the course of the story and how each scene is important to each character that lives through it. Captain Sleeman is an interesting character study as we see him graduate from looking for bones of animals to searching for the victims of the Phasigars. His eye for detail, and following the letter of the law, and yet choose the right thing on a crossroad is extremely commendable. Another character that I liked was that of his wife, Amelie, who supported Sleeman in all his endeavors, and acted as his moral compass during testing times as well. I liked the fact that she added the much-required human touch to the entire plot. Lastly, the Phasigars as a group add to my list of favorites in the book because of the dedication they had towards their craft, as well as the sheer brilliance of the planning and execution they exhibited in the crimes they committed.
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