The Sleeping Dictionary
The Sleeping Dictionary by Sujata Massey is a historical fiction novel published by Simon and Schuster on August 20, 2013. This 496-page original edition presents a sweeping saga set in late Raj India, intertwining a love story with the backdrop of significant political and cultural upheaval. The narrative follows a young girl who survives a devastating ocean wave that destroys her Bengali village and later becomes a maidservant in a British boarding school, where she discovers her talent for languages.
Readers will find a rich exploration of identity and resilience as the protagonist, initially named Pom and later Kamala, navigates her complex life in Kharagpur and Calcutta. The story delves into her struggles for personal freedom and her contributions to India’s fight against imperial rule. Themes of coming of age and the experiences of women during this tumultuous period are central to the narrative, offering insights into the challenges faced by individuals in a changing society.
Official synopsis Publisher
From an award-winning novelist, a stunning portrait of late Raj India—a sweeping saga and a love story set against a background of huge political and cultural upheaval.
YOU ASK FOR MY NAME, THE REAL ONE, AND I CANNOT TELL. IT IS NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT.
In 1930, a great ocean wave blots out a Bengali village, leaving only one survivor, a young girl. As a maidservant in a British boarding school, Pom is renamed Sarah and discovers her gift for languages. Her private dreams almost die when she arrives in Kharagpur and is recruited into a secretive, decadent world. Eventually, she lands in Calcutta, renames herself Kamala, and creates a new life rich in books and friends. But although success and even love seem within reach, she remains trapped by what she is . . . and is not. As India struggles to throw off imperial rule, Kamala uses her hard-won skills—for secrecy, languages, and reading the unspoken gestures of those around her—to fight for her country’s freedom and her own happiness.
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