The Twentieth Wife

By: Indu Sundaresan

Narrated by: Sneha Mathan

Length: 14 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

An enchanting historical epic of grand passion and adventure, this debut novel tells the captivating story of one of India's most controversial empresses, a woman whose brilliance and determination trumped myriad obstacles and whose love shaped the course of the Mughal Empire.

Skillfully blending the textures of historical reality with the rich and sensual imaginings of a timeless fairy tale, The Twentieth Wife sweeps listeners up in Mehrunnisa's embattled love with Prince Salim - and in the bedazzling destiny of a woman, a legend in her own time, who was all but lost to history until now.

©2002 Indu Sundaresan (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Sundaresan writes in the great tradition of the Indian epic, an art she carries forward with grace and brilliance....This is a remarkably readable book despite the historical basis, with which many readers will not be familiar." (Library Journal)
"Sundaresan's debut is a sweeping, carefully researched tale of desire, sexual mores, and political treachery set against the backdrop of 16th- and 17th-century India....[She] charts the chronology of the Mughal Empire, describing life in the royal court in convincing detail and employing authentic period terms throughout." (Publishers Weekly)

Very enjoyable

I got the book because it was included in the membership and it's definitely one of the best ones I've listened to.
The narrator is also awesome.
It's a story of a different world, different way of life and told in a interesting captivating way.

Gorgeous narration

A fantastic beautiful story and exceptional narration. Pure delight from beginning to end. Definitely worth the listen.

A truly great listen!

the narrator is one of the best I've heard. she does an incredible job with making each character distinct and draws you into the story very well!!!

Loved the reader and loved the historical aspects

Beautiful story. A tad bit fantastical, but intriguing nonetheless. It was a wonderful glimpse into India’s history and gave a window into the doings of its women.

Wonderful Story!

I’m a big fan of historical based novels and this one was beautifully written. She provided enough details so that the reader would have an understanding of the political, cultural and culture of the era. Very well researched and satisfying to read.

Enjoyed the story and the voice of the reader

Interesting story and enjoyable to listen to.
I liked hearing the description of how the information for the novel was created, fact vs fiction,

Excellent story and beautiful narration!

Excellent story and beautiful narration. I have listened to it twice and also enjoyed the sequels.

Exquisite Exposition

This is by far the very best book I have ever received through Audible and I almost passed it up because ancient history bores me to tears. The sample lured me in, and I'm glad I took a chance on this little gem. Both the writer and narrator have transformed the history of ancient India into a fictional masterpiece that really appeals to modern readers. This isn't your ordinary read it and enjoy it once kind of book. The entire story is a captivating production of greed, envy, defiance, lust and romance surrounding the larger than life characters. What's more, the amazing narrator delivers an award winning presentation in driving every character to the core of vivid imagination. Definitely a treasure I'll be enjoying again!

A Cinderella story set in Mughal India

As another reviewer has stated, this novel falls more along the lines of historical romance than anything else. I give it four stars for the lush writing, descriptions of the time and places, and vividly developed cast of characters. The narration is an added treat--Sneha Mathan does some of the best voices and accents I have ever heard.

The chief strength of The Twentieth Wife lies in its lively depictions of a very different culture and attitudes from the present day, while at the same time illuminating universal themes such as ambition and romance. I found Mehrunnisa's struggle with the limited role of women especially sympathetic, and her frustration was all too understandable. Her desire to enter the royal zenana had a ring of truth in that context, since it would open the doors to the kind of influence and power closed off to most women of her time.

That said, I confess to not liking the titular character or her romance all that much. This dulled my enjoyment of the book despite its excellence, hence the lack of a fifth star. It just seems a little too pat and easy that the love of Mehrunnisa's life and the man who could give her riches and power beyond imagination were one and the same. That really triggered my cynicism about the purported romance, a problem I have with all Cinderella tales. Furthermore, due to the limitations of the times, the only way Mehrunnisa could achieve her ambition was by pleasing a powerful man. That is very much in line with the reality of the period, and it was nice that she had the intelligence, drive, and luck to do so well for herself. It's just that the kind of "true love" that also happens to make you filthy rich and extremely powerful poses no interesting conflicts or dilemmas, so I could have done without all the gushing about love. If anything, it seems like a story of love of riches and power--something universal and understandable, but not particularly admirable in itself.

captivating

A good story teller pens this historical fiction. From the first page to the final chapter, the reader is transported to the fascinating imperial courts of Mughal India