{"product_id":"etched-in-gold-two-journeys-four-centuries-one-song-of-freedom-9781763765313","title":"Etched in Gold: Two journeys. Four centuries. One song of freedom.","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA triumph of storytelling. Srinivasan bridges past and present, crafting a novel that honours women's resilience, artistry, and intellectual legacy.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cp\u003e--Shankari Chandran, winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2023.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA 1630 Sanskrit biography of a Tanjore king etched on palm leaves. A 1620 trade pact between the kings of Tanjore and Denmark recoded on a shimmering gold foil. Overlooking the shores of Tranquebar in south India, a Danish fort stands as a silent sentinel to these lost alliances, echoing tales of ambition and power and the unexpected intertwining of worlds.\u003c\/p\u003eTwo women enliven this forgotten piece of history.\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAmba, in 1610 Tanjore, \u003c\/strong\u003ea gifted composer and temple musician, gets drawn into a world of politics, power, and peril when she catches the eye of the Tanjore king. The docking of a Danish ship in Tanjore propels Amba on a tumultuous journey of political intrigue and emotional hardship. She perseveres through every challenge and documents the life and reign of King Raghu Nayaka on palm leaves in Sanskrit. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMaya, in 2010 Sydney, \u003c\/strong\u003ea carnatic musician from Chennai, finds herself creatively stifled in Sydney, Australia. While on a soul-searching trip through Tanjore, Maya discovers a gripping biography of a Tanjore king left behind by his contemporary, a female scholar and composer. Amba's life as a temple musician in 17th century Tanjore, strikes a chord that awakens Maya's voice to reshape her own destiny.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEtched in Gold is a novel about cultural memory, artistic defiance, and the enduring legacy of women's voices. The novel \u003cstrong\u003ewas\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e shortlisted for the Penguin Random House Australia Write It Fellowship, 2023. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEtched in Gold transported me to a distant place and time, and made me feel like I belonged. Highly recommended.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e --Pamela Hart, Award winning Historical Novelist\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eI identified with Maya in contemporary Sydney who struggled with her craft of music. Maya helped me understand Amba in Tanjore in 1610 who was facing similar creative and personal struggles.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA wonderful character-driven book.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e--Cathie Tasker, Editor and Creative Writing Teacher\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSrinivasan, Uma:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - Uma Srinivasan writes from the land of the Wangal people in Sydney, Australia. Born in the temple town of Chidambaram and raised in the royal city of Mysore, she has had a long career as a Computer Scientist in India and Australia and now devotes all her time to writing. Her journey into historical fiction began with the translation of her mother's Tamil novel, Nandinayakan: A Temple Builder, published in 2015. In 2024, Uma co-authored the delightful children's book Chaos in the Gym with her granddaughter, Anika Kuber. Etched in Gold, her first major work of fiction, brings forgotten pieces of history to life in a modern global context. The manuscript was shortlisted for the 2023 Write It Fellowship by Penguin Random House Australia.","brand":"Uma Srinivasan Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51572192117010,"sku":"9781763765313","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_317453bf-95a0-4e87-a888-856aa3af6ede.jpg?v=1755856685","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/etched-in-gold-two-journeys-four-centuries-one-song-of-freedom-9781763765313","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}