In ancient India around 970 AD, the Chola dynasty formed the dominant force in Southern India. The Emperor of the Chola kingdom of that time is ill and bed-ridden, counting his last days, as his elder son, the crown prince, gears himself to take the Throne. His younger son, a much loved and popular prince, is down south in Sri Lanka waging war. While his daughter, the princess, is at the palace taking care of the Emperor.
The story begins when Vandiya Devan, a charming and brave young warrior, sets out on a perilous journey to the Kingdom of Chola to deliver a message to the Emperor and the princess, about a conspiracy to place the Emperor's younger cousin on the throne.
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Ponniyin Selvan/The Son of Ponni (Ponni is the name of a river in south India, more commonly known as the Cauvery), is a 20th century historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. Written in 5 volumes, this story centers around the events surrounding the succession of a Chola Emperor. It is arguably the most widely read and popular Tamil novel. It stands out as a masterpiece with it's in-depth characterization and engaging narrative.
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This translation is by Indra Neelameggham, and is reproduced here with some minor edits. I DO NOT own the translation or the original work, and am not using it for any profit.
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Guide To Pronunciation :
Some of the names in the narrative have the tamil 'zh' letter, which is to be pronounced in a sort of a 'ya' sense. Your tongue should work so as to pronounce 'la', but the sound is somewhat like 'ya'.
Grace, the illegitimate daughter of Edward IV, finds her life turned upside down when he dies and her family flees into sanctuary when her uncle takes power. Torn between family loyalties and her need for love and stability, Grace struggles to survive a dangerous world.
A historical fiction story set during the War of the Roses. One fateful night, a young woman flees with her family to take sanctuary in the church. The illegitimate daughter of the late king, Grace, is told her uncle Richard has stolen her half-brother, the new king and is seizing power. Her stepmother, Elizabeth Woodville, takes her children and Grace into sanctuary and begins recruiting others to take down Richard. Young Grace is sent on a mission and meets her uncle. His kindness makes her doubt that he is as bad as her stepmother claims. But she sticks to her loyalty to her family even as everything falls apart. Elizabeth's plan fails, Grace's half-brother is taken by force out of sanctuary, and Richard reveals Elizabeth was never legally married to Grace's father, making Richard the king. Elizabeth refuses to leave sanctuary, keeping Grace and her half-sisters trapped as rumors grow about the disappearance of the girls' brothers. The only bright spot of Grace's life is meeting with a messenger, a young man who is the first person to see this forgotten king's daughter. As much as she wants to leave, her loyalty keeps her buried alive.
Shortlisted in the Open Novella Contest 2020
Shortlisted in the Wattys 2021 and Wattys 2022