AMAH AND THE SILK WINGED PIGEONS

Rishma Malik's lovely, textured voice engages listeners at once, drawing them into the world of Awadh, in Northern India, in 1857. Lucknow, Awadh's capital city, does a prosperous spice trade and is a haven for drama, poetry and music. Amah is a member of the palace military guards, women of African descent who have protected the royal family for decades. Malik adds necessary gravitas when British imperialism and the East India Company overwhelm Lucknow, ousting the king; destroying homes, temples, and businesses; and overtaxing the people. Amah, the women guards, and Begam Sahiba, a former queen, risk everything to reinstate the exiled king and rid India of British interference. Malik's lilting accents and sensitive pacing add to this mostly forgotten moment in Indian history. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]