Customer Reviews

Zemindar

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I cannot heap enough praise on Valerie Fitzgerald's superb historical novel "Zemindar." I have always had an interest in India, especially during the period of the British Raj. I picked up a copy of this book at a used bookstore by chance, little knowing that it was to become one of my favorite novels. It is a beautifully written, impeccably researched, totally addictive read.

Set in India during the Raj, the author follows the lives of a newly married British couple on honeymoon to India, their young cousin, an Englishwoman who is companion to the bride, and the groom's half-brother, a European hereditary ruler - a zemindar - to his own fabulous kingdom, Hassanganj. This epic saga of love, war, tragedy and ultimate triumph is drawn from the author's personal experience. Ms. Fitzgerald's grandmother lived through the Indian Sepoy Mutiny, which is vividly recreated here. And the author, herself, spent her adolescence in Lucknow where her father was stationed during WWII. Her summers were spent on a zemindari estate similar to Oliver Erskine's extraordinary holdings. This personal perspective adds tremendously to the book's historical accuracy and provides the reader with an unusual, caring and honest perspective of the country, the native population and their British rulers.

I would be remiss if I did not mention that Ms. Fitzgerald not only provides a detailed and colorful portrait of India but she has created an exceptional cast of characters, both Indian and British, realistic and strong enough to inhabit the times in which they lived. Notable among them are Oliver Erskine - a combination of Edward Rochester (from Jane Eyre) and Rhett Butler (improbable but most effective and believable) - and Laura Hewitt. The novel is worth the read just to become acquainted with these two.

Along with "The Siege of Krishnapur," "Zemindar" is one of the best period works of historical fiction. It won the Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize in 1981, selected from scores of manuscripts that included M. M. Kaye's "The Far Pavillions." Not to be missed!
JANA

It's nice to know that other people have enjoyed this novel as much as I have. India and the era of the Sepoy Mutiny have always interested me, and this book covers it throughly, without romanticizing. It also delivers a believable love story between two intelligent, independent minded characters.

Laura, the philosophical poor relation, owes a certain debt to Jane Eyre, but she is far from being a carbon copy. Travelling to India with her newly married cousin, she wants to know something of the real, non-British India. Along the way she makes some unusual friends, from a scholarly merchant to an Indian noble, not to mention the women who have managed to survive life in India.

Oliver owes a debt to Georgette Heyer's harsh featured, anti-social heroes, but again is developed so well that he is a character in his own right. Though English, he is a zemindar, a kind of hereditary Indian noble. He sees all too clearly the mistakes and injustices of the British that lead to the rebellion. He has a few flaws of his own, though, including a tendency to blame women for the tensions between the British and Indians.

Like a Victorian novel, it moves slowly, introducing all the characters and situations that will be important in the last half of the story. However, enough happens to keep these chapters interesting.

Eventually, Laura, Oliver and their friends find themselves engulfed in one of the bloodiest rebellions of the 19th century. Even today, reading about the war crimes committed by both sides is enough to make you shudder, though this is not one of those novels that revels in descriptions of bloody or violent scenes. It has much more to do with how experience changes the characters. After I read it, I feel almost envious of Laura, whose hardships have brought her so much insight and perspective.

Like other posters here, I always wish for a sequel, or even a different book by the same author. It is much better than, for example, the highly romanticized Shadow of the Moon by MM Kaye, which also covers the Rebellion.

I join the chorus of readers who wish Ms. Fitzgerald had written more. I too, read this book several times, and longed for a sequel. Unlike most "romances", the book creates the magic of love in which the lovers discover the pleasure of a like mind. This book should be reprinted and promoted.

You must admire the author for creating a pair of characters who bond over "Meditations" by the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

This is a terrific read, with the typical Victoria Holt elements for that publishing period done ever so much better. I still want to know what happened next in the lives of the characters. There is no easy resolution of plot, or standard Happily Ever After.

Every fan posting here should write the publisher to urge a re-print. I believe this is an example of "there's one good book in every potential writer", as I've noticed no other offerings from Ms. Fitzgerald.

If she had only one, this is tremendously rewarding.

This was just outstanding,and I am sorry there was never a sequel and very sorry this author never wrote again. An incredible tale of Laura the poor relation on a journey to India with her newly married cousin Emily and her husband Charles (who Laura thought herself in love with). The book really has a Jane Eyre feel to it, neither the heroine or hero are out and out drop dead good looking, just strong, honorable people we come to care about.

As they travel through India on the way to Lucknow in northern India we meet many characters as the author sets up her stage to the Sepoy rebellion and the seige of Lucknow. Also introduced is Charles' half brother Oliver Erskine, a Zemindar, or large land holder. Eventually Oliver and Laura fall in love, and are separated at Lucknow (after a harrowing escape from Oliver's estate after the rebellion). Oh, when Oliver said to Laura, "I will come back to you, for you".

The rest of the book follows the harrowing conditions at the residency at Lucknow during the seige, the battles, deaths and brutal conditions suffered by the British. Be warned that this was a very brutal rebellion and some of the scenes described, although accurate, can be a bit gory, but important history to be reminded of and the mistakes that were made by ignorant pompous officials and the brutalities committed on both sides due to hate, ignorance and prejudice. It's unfortunate that we do not learn well from history and things are still so much the same in the Middle East in our present time.

**Slight spoiler ahead**

The thing I liked most about this book was the author's lovely prose and characters. I felt like I was reading Jane Eyre or Villette, she reminded me so much of Charlotte Bronte, particularly at the end with the letters Oliver and Laura exchanged and when they were finally reunited. You definitely want to set aside quiet time(no kids, dogs or phone) for the last 50 or so pages so that you can savor every lovely word and emotion.

**End spoiler**

Highly highly recommended for any lover of historical fiction, and would suit well to a younger reader as the love scenes are extremely chaste. I would also recommend MM Kaye's Shadow of the MoonThe same setting, but her characters experienced the rebellion outside of the Residency, so you see a different side of the tale. Both are out of print, but readily available used.

I first read this book about fifteen years ago and then lent it to someone - never to be seen again. Of course I had to buy it again, second hand hardback this time, and I was so delighted when it dropped through my letterbox a few weeks back. I've read it twice since then.

This book is magnificent, sweeping, detailed, and it's one of those books where you find yourself completely lost in the events. It follows the journey of a young English lady, Laura Hewitt, whose cousin Emily has married the man that Laura loves. Laura finds herself accompanying them on their honeymoon trip to India. Part of the reason for the journey to India is for Charles to meet his half-brother Oliver Erskine who is a Zemindar (a landowner of significant territory) and, as his mother hopes, to become Erskine's heir.

Through this book we travel with Laura, Emily and Charles during their sea voyage to India, as they adjust to Indian life staying with various relatives as they work their way into India and then, as they meet Oliver Erskine and then stay with him in his estate, we watch the flowering romance between Mr Erskine and Laura. This is described beautifully and the failings of the two main characters, as well as their good points, are shown to us. As India descends into turmoil we travel with the small group of people to Lucknow where they are beseiged, fight, suffer deprivations and illness, bereavement, all portrayed brilliantly.

The strength of this book is the detail of the life of India in the 1830s, the interaction between the two very strong main characters and their slowly building romance, the portrayal of people and their weaknesses and strengths in times of war, and the evident love of India that the author shows. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

I bought and read Zemindar at 11, and was enthralled. Now I'm reading it again at 33, and am equally captivated. The book is well-written to the degree that descriptive passages never pall, gruelling subject matter is fascinating without being unsympathetic, and factual information is transparently assimilated with no effort required by the reader. If only all historical (and other) texts were as absorbing, and all novels as easy to read and hard to put down - a compulsive read.

This was just outstanding,and I am sorry there was never a sequel and very sorry this author never wrote again. An incredible tale of Laura the poor relation on a journey to India with her newly married cousin Emily and her husband Charles (who Laura thought herself in love with). The book really has a Jane Eyre feel to it, neither the heroine or hero are out and out drop dead good looking, just strong, honorable people we come to care about.

As they travel through India on the way to Lucknow in northern India we meet many characters as the author sets up her stage to the Sepoy rebellion and the seige of Lucknow. Also introduced is Charles' half brother Oliver Erskine, a Zemindar, or large land holder. Eventually Oliver and Laura fall in love, and are separated at Lucknow (after a harrowing escape from Oliver's estate after the rebellion). Oh, when Oliver said to Laura, "I will come back to you, for you".

The rest of the book follows the harrowing conditions at the residency at Lucknow during the seige, the battles, deaths and brutal conditions suffered by the British. Be warned that this was a very brutal rebellion and some of the scenes described, although accurate, can be a bit gory, but important history to be reminded of and the mistakes that were made by ignorant pompous officials and the brutalities committed on both sides due to hate, ignorance and prejudice. It's unfortunate that we do not learn well from history and things are still so much the same in the Middle East in our present time.

The thing I liked most about this book was the author's lovely prose and characters. I felt like I was reading Jane Eyre or Villette, she reminded me so much of Charlotte Bronte, particularly at the end with the letters Oliver and Laura exchanged and when they were finally reunited. You definitely want to set aside quiet time(no kids, dogs or phone) for the last 50 or so pages so that you can savor every lovely word and emotion.

Highly highly recommended for any lover of historical fiction, and would suit well to a younger reader as the love scenes are extremely chaste. I would also recommend MM Kaye's Shadow of the Moon. The same setting, but her characters experienced the rebellion outside of the Residency, so you see a different side of the tale. Both are out of print, but readily available used.

I am never disappointed when I re-read this book every year. When I sit down to read it I know I will enjoy it each time. It seems to be a fairly authentic historical novel yet I am thoroughly involved with the characters who make this period in history come alive. If you like this book, try "Tradewind" by M.M.Kaye. I also read it over and over.

When I read this book, I had the feeling that it was slow and dragging, later I discovered it was not to be. The subtle portrayal of characters is engrossing and one which you can identify with. As I belong to that part of the world, the way the landscapes from there are described leave a feeling in you as if they are reeling past you from the window of a train carriage. The greatest part of it is the theme of the novel in which Laura Hewitt, a young woman of not much consequence accompanying her jealous and often griping cousin, Emily, discovers her love for Oliver Erskine which is equally reciprocated. Oliver is a man of wealth and great estate in the northern part of India and half brother of Charles Flood, Emily's husband. The way the story is narrated and how it is gulped into an important period of Indian history and how it issues out of it is spectacular to read. The intricacies of characters are immense and their interactions with each other look natural as! well. The author obviously has a great eye on the ways and lifestyles of Indian subcontinent. Overall it is a great book and a must to read.