The Illuminated

In Cosmopolitan, a mother and daughter lose the most important man in their lives, and Shashi finds unexpected new freedoms while Tara struggles to reconcile. They are targeted by a religious group, but they must find a way to understand each other to emerge unscathed.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 19 January 2023
Publisher: Head of Zeus

Cosmopolitan is a novel that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the search for freedom in the face of adversity. Set against the backdrop of fundamentalism in India, the story follows the lives of Shashi, a fifty-something woman who is suddenly widowed, and her daughter, Tara, a brilliant university student who has retreated to Dharamsala to deal with the fall out from an ill-advised relationship.

As Shashi confronts her loss, she finds unexpected new freedoms, and she begins to question the constraints that have defined her life. Meanwhile, Tara struggles with her self-imposed solitude and the loss of the man who bound her to her mother. Without the man that bound them, Shashi and Tara struggle to reconcile, but his absence also makes them a target for an emerging religious group determined to put women in their place.

The novel is lyrical throughout, yet so deceptively easygoing, and it offers a powerful exploration of the human experience. It is an extraordinary novel that will leave readers feeling moved and inspired.

The Illuminated is a debut novel by Alice Ryan, and it gives voice to a new generation of women who are navigating the complexities of modern life. The novel is praised for its powerful, evocative, and accomplished writing, and it has received widespread critical acclaim.

In conclusion, Cosmopolitan is a novel that explores the themes of loss, grief, and the search for freedom in the face of adversity. It is a powerful, evocative, and accomplished work that will leave readers feeling moved and inspired. The Illuminated is a debut novel by Alice Ryan that gives voice to a new generation of women and is praised for its powerful, evocative, and accomplished writing.

Weight: 522g
Dimension: 236 x 156 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781803289779