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Flame Tree Road
Shona Patel
From the acclaimed author of Teatime for the Firefly comes the story of a man with dreams of changing the world, who finds himself changed by love1870s India. In a tiny village where society is ruled by a caste system and women are defined solely by marriage, young Biren Roy dreams of forging a new destiny. When his mother suffers the fate of widowhood–shunned by her loved ones and forced to live in solitary penance–Biren devotes his life to effecting change.Biren's passionate spirit blossoms as wildly as the blazing flame trees of his homeland. With a law degree, he goes to work for the government to pioneer academic equality for girls. But in a place governed by age-old conventions, progress comes at a price, and soon Biren becomes a stranger among his own countrymen.Just when his vision for the future begins to look hopeless, he meets Maya, the independent-minded daughter of a local educator, and his soul is reignited. It is in her love that Biren finally finds his home, and in her heart that he finds the hope for a new world.
From the acclaimed author of Teatime for the Firefly comes the story of a man with dreams of changing the world, who finds himself changed by love
1870s India. In a tiny village where society is ruled by a caste system and women are defined solely by marriage, young Biren Roy dreams of forging a new destiny. When his mother suffers the fate of widowhood—shunned by her loved ones and forced to live in solitary penance—Biren devotes his life to effecting change.
Biren’s passionate spirit blossoms as wildly as the blazing flame trees of his homeland. With a law degree, he goes to work for the government to pioneer academic equality for girls. But in a place governed by age-old conventions, progress comes at a price, and soon Biren becomes a stranger among his own countrymen.
Just when his vision for the future begins to look hopeless, he meets Maya, the independent-minded daughter of a local educator, and his soul is reignited. It is in her love that Biren finally finds his home, and in her heart that he finds the hope for a new world.
Praise for Shona Patel’s debut novel, Teatime for the Firefly (#ulink_d5a38a62-af9f-5f11-9f46-53921ae5a191)
“Patel’s remarkable debut effortlessly transports readers back to India on the brink of independence…fans of romantic women’s fiction will be enchanted by [the] Teatime for the Firefly’s enthralling characters, exotic setting, and evocative writing style.”
—Booklist, starred review
“The historical detail makes this debut novel a rich reading experience. Those who enjoy historical fiction and portraits of foreign cultures will surely love this book.”
—Library Journal
“Debut author Patel offers a stunning, panoramic view of a virtually unknown time and place—the colonial British tea plantations of Assam—while bringing them to life through a unique character’s perspective.… A lyrical novel that touches on themes both huge and intimate and, like Layla, is so quietly bold that we might miss its strength if we fail to pay attention.”
—Kirkus Book Reviews
“A captivating tale of discovery, adventure, challenge, romance and triumph over difficult conditions that rings with authenticity.”
—Bookreporter
“With lyrical prose and exquisite detail, Shona Patel’s novel brings to life the rich and rugged landscape of India’s tea plantation, harboring a sweet love story at its core.”
—Shilpi Somaya Gowda, New York Times bestselling author of Secret Daughter
“Patel takes readers on a vivid tour of 1940s India, exploring the attitudes of the day and the traditions of the tea-growing region of Assam. The story ebbs and flows gracefully, sure to keep readers actively engaged and fervently enticed. Simply stated, Teatime for the Firefly is a true treasure.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A lush, rich love story combined with history and culture…this gem of a novel is a perfect read for anyone looking for a deep, engrossing tale.”
—All About Romance
Also from Shona Patel and MIRA Books (#ulink_8eb5445f-078b-5f64-85ae-36088289a9f2)
Teatime for the Firefly
Flame Tree Road
Shona Patel
www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)
For Mothy, my sister,
the key to my authentic self
Contents
Cover (#ucb8d88ee-c16e-545a-8c70-40c484e04dc1)
Back Cover Text (#ue934e024-78b0-5b3f-9f0e-00053c6fd3f5)
Praise (#ulink_326e7de9-3ea7-588a-abc2-57cf986cf37c)
Also from Shona Patel and MIRA Books (#ulink_45d735ec-8e5e-5fc6-a04c-20510cec377c)
Title Page (#u9e4e50f4-df70-5d14-bf1b-88fc0b9652bd)
Dedication (#u592d44cb-16d2-5eec-b94d-9e86feee5fd0)
Epigraph (#u2b9b940d-83f3-5ddc-b1e1-f46bab323211)
Prologue (#uee82db60-8a6b-544e-8d20-b2981275d4ca)
CHAPTER 1 (#ulink_a9a69915-8c7a-5aa0-bb5b-5ff1291f5fc6)
CHAPTER 2 (#ulink_c36b3adc-822e-5dfd-b1a9-a3c552790d5c)
CHAPTER 3 (#ulink_32dc3070-6424-5640-b261-4e1e489cedd8)
CHAPTER 4 (#ulink_674f96d7-3f7c-5c85-bace-d0c4a7a7ac10)
CHAPTER 5 (#ulink_73436a46-f620-5b8a-a0b7-8d2f78dbd045)
CHAPTER 6 (#ulink_76f31e83-4dd9-55ab-aba5-52e672dfe562)
CHAPTER 7 (#ulink_e6968fde-9db7-5c91-bf78-9ff76192f0b1)
CHAPTER 8 (#ulink_dd20b8b8-eb7f-5e69-8896-0535f2907a58)
CHAPTER 9 (#ulink_dd122fce-f3a0-5e40-8fdb-946df9f857a0)
CHAPTER 10 (#ulink_ed3a0bf1-fde0-52ef-8518-f3ef203ab8d7)
CHAPTER 11 (#ulink_7c236be0-c8be-538f-8b95-5f05137380fa)
CHAPTER 12 (#ulink_033bc2a8-ff70-581a-97c4-199ca8d37e3a)
CHAPTER 13 (#ulink_1640afeb-24e3-500c-afb1-5869dab7131a)
CHAPTER 14 (#ulink_a39b85ef-736b-50ac-aa64-9bfcf7c5fce1)
CHAPTER 15 (#ulink_ed6d814e-7ad7-5706-ae25-2b7075c1fa40)
CHAPTER 16 (#ulink_1367e133-8de7-555e-86ee-594b61ba99a2)
CHAPTER 17 (#ulink_dc6969ee-8648-51e4-9653-f618ac8103ce)
CHAPTER 18 (#ulink_bd96fe17-69d7-558c-8c30-7946acf6c93c)
CHAPTER 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 21 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 22 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 23 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 24 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 25 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 26 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 27 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 28 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 29 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 30 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 31 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 32 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 33 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 34 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 35 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 36 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 37 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 38 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 39 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 40 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 41 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 42 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 43 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 44 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 45 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 46 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 47 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 48 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 49 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 50 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 51 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 52 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 53 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 54 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 55 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 56 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 57 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 58 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 59 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 60 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 61 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 62 (#litres_trial_promo)
CHAPTER 63 (#litres_trial_promo)
