The
Sleeping Dictionary
An
excellent novel set in India when it was under British
control. It is very readable and through it you will gain insight
into the caste system and culture of India and the British domination
of that land at that time.
Above
all you will find the story of a young girl Pom ( her name changes
about 5 times throughout the book) whose family is swept away in a
flood. The book tells of her trials and tribulations in growing
up.She works at becoming educated.
She
survives by becoming a forced prostitute, losing a child, and
eventually working for the love interest of the story, an English
civil servant called Simon. During her time as librarian /housekeeper
for Simon she becomes involved in the political struggle for indian
independence and the tension during that time is well written.
An
unusual title for a book but you find out in the book that it was
the term used by European men who needed to quickly learn the Indian
language and the quickest way to do it was to sleep with a young
Indian girl.- A sleeping dictionary.
The author has made a very interesting web site about the book.
This will enter my "To read list" sounds very interesting and I like her website. I have read several of Rohinton Mistry's books that are set in India, highly recommend them.
ReplyDeleteJohn