The Secret of the Storyteller

If anyone asks her, Jaya will say she’s American—her parents left India a long time ago and have never returned. But when her marriage falls apart, she feels the need to search for her roots and rediscover herself. Finding herself in the beautiful and exciting world from which she comes but to which she does not belong, Jaya soon begins to discover its dark side as well.

With the help of Ravi, her grandmother Amisha’s longtime and devoted servant, Jaya immerses herself in the exotic world of Indian culture and the country’s tumultuous history during the 20th century. Before her eyes emerges the image of the proud and independent Amisha, a talented storyteller who refuses to play the submissive role imposed on her by her husband and society. Jaya discovers Amisha’s passion for words, her sharp mind, her rich soul, her humanity, and, most astonishingly, her love for Stephen—a British soldier who found himself in India against his will during World War II and at a time when India was fighting for its independence.