
The Last Queen
A Novel of Courage and Resistance
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Narrated by:
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Sneha Mathan
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Written by:
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Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
About this listen
WINNER of the 2022 INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKING WOMEN AWARD for BEST FICTION OF THE YEAR!
LONGLISTED for 2022 DUBLIN LITERARY AWARD!
She rose from commoner to become the last reigning queen of India’s Sikh Empire. In this dazzling novel, based on true-life events, bestselling author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni presents the unforgettable story of Jindan, who transformed herself from daughter of the royal kennel keeper to powerful monarch.
Sharp-eyed, stubborn, and passionate, Jindan was known for her beauty. When she caught the eye of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, she was elevated to royalty, becoming his youngest and last queen—and his favorite. And when her son, barely six years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne, Jindan assumed the regency. She transformed herself from pampered wife to warrior ruler, determined to protect her people and her son’s birthright from the encroaching British Empire.
Defying tradition, she stepped out of the zenana, cast aside the veil, and conducted state business in public, inspiring her subjects in two wars. Her power and influence were so formidable that the British, fearing an uprising, robbed the rebel queen of everything she had, but nothing crushed her indomitable will.
An exquisite love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child, and an inspiration for our times, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s novel brings alive one of the most fearless women of the nineteenth century, one whose story cries out to be told.
©2022 Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (P)2022 HarperCollins PublishersYou may also enjoy...
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What listeners say about The Last Queen
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- Amazon Customer
- 2024-02-13
story itself. i was not aware of it.
very interesting story of a very courageous and brave queen her struggles and admiring loving mother
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- annette
- 2023-08-05
a very long, dense and moving story
I learned a great deal about colonialism, tribal rivalries and warfare, and different kinds of social strata and their effects. The titular queen is indeed an extraordinary figure and I’m happy to know about her life.
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- SA
- 2025-03-24
Gripping storytelling
Fascinating and balanced in perspective taking but a tad bit choppy, especially in the early chapters. I wonder if it was intentional to recreate the drama in original languages that felt odd at times when translated into English. Nevertheless, gripping! Glad I picked it up!
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- Sandeep
- 2022-07-28
Loved this Book
This book is amazingly written and I feel I was able to finish due to the wonderful narration.
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- Christine Ringuette
- 2022-12-15
Skillfully Crafted and Narrated!
I found myself lost in the story, exactly where I wanted to be. Wonderful!
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- Sandeep Kaur
- 2022-12-03
A tale of our history
It is a must read by anyone who learn about khalsa raj, beautifully written and once you start it you cant leave it in middle
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- bridget gagnon
- 2023-02-16
Loved this story
I really enjoyed this story.
It transports you in to a totally different time.
I also really enjoyed the narrator.
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- MandyT
- 2024-07-22
Loved it!
Very well written and narrated. I listened to it twice. I really enjoyed the detailed portrayal of Sikh history.
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