The Jewel in the Crown (The Raj Quartet, #1) in Retro Chapter Chicks

Jul 10, 2017 Candi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: asia, classics-shelf, historical-fiction, book-i-own

"Imagine, then, a flat landscape, dark for the moment, but even so conveying to a girl running in the still deeper shadows cast by the wall of the Bibighar Gardens an idea of immensity, of distance, such as years before Miss Crane had been conscious of standing where a lane ended and cultivation began: a different landscape but also in the alluvial plain between the mountains of the north and the plateau of the south."

The first in Paul Scott’s Raj Quartet, The Jewel in the Crown is a remarkable "Imagine, then, a flat landscape, dark for the moment, but even so conveying to a girl running in the still deeper shadows cast by the wall of the Bibighar Gardens an idea of immensity, of distance, such as years before Miss Crane had been conscious of standing where a lane ended and cultivation began: a different landscape but also in the alluvial plain between the mountains of the north and the plateau of the south."

The first in Paul Scott’s Raj Quartet, The Jewel in the Crown is a remarkable allegory about the relationship between the imperialistic power of Britain and her gem that is India. It is a penetrating contrast between darkness and light and contains striking metaphors that emphasize the racial tensions and the gulf between the British and the people of India at a time when their ultimate goal was that of independence. The caste system within India is also examined to such an extent that we understand the barriers between the citizens themselves. There is such a sense of place and time and Scott’s skillful writing really connects you with the beauty of the country as well as the wretchedness of the poverty-stricken. The reader sees, smells, hears and feels all, thanks to incredibly lush descriptions. The prose is really quite exquisite at times. "The range of green is extraordinary, palest lime, butter emerald, mid-tones, neutral tints. The textures of the leaves are many and varied, they communicate themselves through sight to imaginary touch, exciting the finger-tips: leaves coming into the tenderest flesh, superbly in their prime, crisping to old age; all this at the same season because here there is no autumn. In the shadows there are dark blue veils, the indigo dreams of plants fallen asleep, and odours of sweet and necessary decay, numerous places layered with the cast-off fruit of other years softened into compost, feeding the living roots that lie under the garden massively, in hungry immobility."

The story takes place in Mayapore in 1942. Britain is in the thick of World War II, Gandhi advocates for non-violence, his slogan “Quit India” is seen and heard everywhere, and political tensions are at a boiling point. We learn from the outset that this book is about the rape of a young English woman. Scott uses this plot along with the voices of several different narrators to paint a wider picture of both the history of India as well as its future. The novel is broken down into several sections that offer varying perspectives on the events leading up to the horrific crime. We are given bits and pieces of the story – it’s not so much a mystery rather than an understanding of how such a climactic event could ever come about in the first place. The culture, the prejudices, and the chaos of the time – all lead to such an eruption. The characters are diverse and richly drawn. Each has their own individual flaws, struggles, and strengths, and we come to understand their motives and actions quite intimately. Conflicts of identity, self-discovery, and forbidden love are all explored in depth. At the core of the narrative are the divisions based on race, color, and religion. Some characters cannot overcome the gap, others recognize their inability to mend the rift a bit too late, and others have it in their hearts to work towards bridging the gulf despite all odds. "… life is not just a business of standing on dry land and occasionally getting your feet wet. It is merely an illusion that some of us stand on one bank and some on the opposite. So long as we stand like that we are not living at all, but dreaming. So jump, jump in, and let the shock wake us up. Even if we drown, at least for a moment or two before we die we shall be awake and alive."

It’s very difficult to put into words the depth and feeling in this novel. The scope is far-reaching and the relationships are complex, and I found it extremely absorbing. At times I found the writing a bit heavy-handed, in particular when Scott delved into more detailed military and political history; therefore I can’t quite give this 5 stars. There were several scenes that left me speechless – their intensity being so moving. There is no denying the masterful writing of this author and I intend to read the entire Raj quartet eventually. Recommended to those that enjoy classic and historical fiction, multiple viewpoints, and complex narratives. 4 stars.

"I’m glad I came before and not in the middle of the rains. It’s best to undergo the exhaustion of that heat, the heat of April and May that brings out the scarlet flowers of the gol mohurs, the ‘flames of the forest’ (such a dead, dry, lifeless-looking tree before the blossoms burst) the better to know the joy of the wild storms and lashing rains of the first downpours that turn everything green. That is my India. The India of the rains." ...more

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