Product Description

An utterly captivating story of three young British women in search of freedom and love in 1920s India

Synopsis

Autumn 1928. Three young women are on their way to India, each with a new life in mind. Rose, a beautiful but naïve bride-to-be, is anxious about leaving her family and marrying a man she hardly knows. Victoria, her bridesmaid couldn t be happier to get away from her overbearing mother, and is determined to find herself a husband. And Viva, their inexperienced chaperone, is in search of the India of her childhood, ghosts from the past and freedom. Each of them has their own reason for leaving their homeland but the hopes and secrets they carry can do little to prepare them for what lies ahead in India.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #27 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-12
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Review
"a rich historical novel...a taut, never predictable plot" (audio edition) (SUNDAY TIMES )

"The Orion staff gave this beautifully written book an overwhelming thumbs up, and it isn't hard to see why" (COUNTRY LIFE )

Synopsis
Autumn 1928. Three young women are on their way to India, each with a new life in mind. Rose, a beautiful but naive bride-to-be, is anxious about leaving her family and marrying a man she hardly knows. Victoria, her bridesmaid couldn t be happier to get away from her overbearing mother, and is determined to find herself a husband. And Viva, their inexperienced chaperone, is in search of the India of her childhood, ghosts from the past and freedom. Each of them has their own reason for leaving their homeland but the hopes and secrets they carry can do little to prepare them for what lies ahead in India. From the parties of the wealthy Bombay socialites, to the ragged orphans on Tamarind Street, EAST OF THE SUN is an utterly engaging novel that will captivate readers everywhere.

About the Author
Julia Gregson has worked in women's magazines in the UK, US and the Far East. She has had several serials and short stories published and read on the radio. She lives in Wales with her husband and daughter. This is her second novel.

Customer Reviews

Good til the end
It took me a long time to read this book (due to work stuff), and despite it being very different to the type of book I normally read, I found it quite absorbing. Until the end that is....maybe I should have given more thought to what I expected from the end, as I felt a little disappointed. The story offers a wonderful, generous insight into the lifes of these three women and the language is excellent in parts - particularly when describingthe complex relationships of the characters.

Viva Holloway starts off as a brilliant heroine, but I just feel she ends up massively compromising all she believes in a slightly grand fashion...

east of the sun
This book i happen to pick as a holiday read, it was so captivating that i finshed it in 2 days i couldnt put in down! Being half indian i felt that i was there a times,beautifully written i enjoyed it very much didnt want it to end.I am going to read more of Julia's books.

End of Empire
An enthralling read, fulfilling all the promise of its rear cover. The story follows the experiences of its three young ladies, maybe giving slight preference to Viva who has more soul searching to do than the others. Julia Gregson writes with a nice angle on the psychology of her characters, uncovering their joys and insecurities.

The book is all the more interesting for being set in a period of India's history not usually favoured by writers, the late 1920s. This gives the story an edge which is exploited in the Guy Glover episodes, where attitudes to mental illness and cultural tensions provide thematic issues propelling Viva's story along.

Life in colonial India in the dying days of British Rule is looked at from various angles. This intrigues the reader and stirs a deeper consideration of the life the girls have been plunged as well as the attitudes of the entrenched Brits, those who wanted to do charitable work, and some of the Indians.

Themes do not overwhelm story, and the end is satisfying without too much sentiment. It's one of those where you feel you've got to know three new friends and have enjoyed the experience. A good read.