The Glass Palace (Magill’s Literary Annual 1991-2005)
At a glance:
- Author: Amitav Ghosh
- First Published: 2000
- Type of Work: Novel
- Time of Work: 1885-1996
- Setting: Burma, India, and Malaya
- Principal Characters: Rajkumar Raha, Dolly Sein, John Martins, Uma Dey
- Genres: Long fiction, Postcolonial literature
- Subjects: Colonialism, Love or romance, Twentieth century, Nineteenth century, Exile or expatriates, World War II, Asia or Asians, War, Kings, queens, or royalty, India or East Indian people, Servants, Orphans or orphanages, Southeast Asia, Himalayas, Pottery, porcelain, or glass
- Locales: Burma, India, Malaya
This complex story weaves historical facts with a family saga spanning three generations, and examines the political and social issues of Burma, Malaya, and India during a tumultuous century.
The fourth novel by Amitav Ghosh opens on the eve of war in Mandalay, as the British prepare to capture the Burmese throne. An eleven-year-old Indian orphan named Rajkumar informs a crowd at a food stall that the booming sound they hear is a British cannon. The year is 1885, and a dispute between a British timber company and King Thebaw of Burma leads to battle. The Burmese army, defeated...
[The entire page is 2039 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
