The Fertile Earth
'Destined to be a future classic' Guardian
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- 14,99 €
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- 14,99 €
Publisher Description
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2025 DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE * SHORTLISTED FOR THE CENTER FOR FICTION PRIZE
'Dazzling... Plot-packed, emotionally extravagant, dramatically intense' Guardian
A sweeping story of forbidden love, of friendship and betrayal, power and revenge, set against the tumultuous political landscape of post-Independence India
Vijaya and Sree are the daughters of the wealthy, landowning Deshmukh family, whose social status and power are absolute in the tiny village of Irumi. Krishna and Ranga are the sons of a widowed servant who works in the Deshmukh household.
The four children should never have spoken, let alone forged a friendship. But the bonds they form are intense – and dangerous. When they are caught up in a devastating accident, the consequences ripple through their lives and send them scattering to different corners of India.
Years later, when violent uprisings tear across the countryside, Vijaya and Krishna find themselves irresistibly drawn back to one another, despite the differences in their class and background. But this is not the India they once knew. Their country is changing, burning from the inside out. Irumi is no longer safe.
'A heart-wrenching tale of forbidden love.' Washington Post
'Rao's illuminating tale of moral corruption and redemptive love is beautifully crafted [and] heralds a terrific new talent.' Observer
'A spellbinding epic of land, class and family in post-independence India.' Aube Rey Lescure
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Rao's moving debut revolves around a star-crossed friendship. In 1955 Irumi, India, 12-year-old Krishna stands up for Vijaya Deshmukh when their classmates mock her for being the niece of the village's feudal landlord. Even though Vijaya is reluctant to become friends with Krishna, given his lowly status as son of the village washerwoman, she soon warms up to him and asks him to join her in the hunt for a man-eating tiger. During their adventure, Vijaya's sister, Sree, is gravely injured. In the aftermath, the Deshmukhs are eager to keep Krishna and Vijaya apart and offer him the chance to study in Hyderabad on the condition that his older brother, Ranga, never leaves Irumi and continues to serve them. After this bargain, Krishna doesn't see anyone from Irumi for 10 years. He pursues a PhD in mathematics and reunites with Vijaya at a fair in Irumi, where their connection is as strong as ever, prompting them to consider marriage, until a catastrophic incident occurs involving Ranga, who's become a radical communist. Rao's beautiful story is packed with intricate family dynamics, politics, and tragedy. This is splendid.
