Author: C V Raman Pillai
Publisher: Sahitya Akademi
Year: 1998
Language: English
Pages: 382
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8126004681
Description
English translation of Malayalam novel, it is the first of a trilogy of historical novels written on the royal family. On the surface a historical romance, its subtext is political and of contemporary significance.
In the novel there is a subplot with Subhadra at the center. Through what she does or what happens to her, the author is projecting a futuristic vision of the New Women in the Indian context. Another unique feature of this novel is the introduction, for the first time, of untouchables, the channans of south Travancore. Hence fiction is asserting humanistic values over and above the taboos and superstitions of yester-years.
TRANSLATOR: B K Menon was educated in Ernakulam and Madras. He wrote poetry in Malayalam and articles and short stories in English. Marthanda Varma was his first master piece in translation.