The Fertile Earth
by Ruthvika Rao
Narrated by Sneha Mathan
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Pub Date 5 Sep 2024 | Archive Date 27 Aug 2024
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Description
A sweeping story of forbidden love, of friendship and betrayal, power and revenge, set against the tumultuous political landscape of post-Independence India
The mounting curiosity amongst them was not about the identity of the victims; they all knew who the dead ones were.
The only question that remained, therefore, was who amongst them had seen it happen.
Vijaya and Sree are the daughters of the wealthy, landowning Deshmukh family, whose social status and power are absolute in the tiny village of Irumi. Krishna and Ranga are the sons of a widowed servant who works in the Deshmukh household.
The four children should never have spoken, let alone forged a friendship. But the bonds they form are intense – and dangerous. When they are caught up in a devastating accident, the consequences ripple through their lives and send them scattering to different corners of India.
Years later, when violent uprisings tear across the countryside, Vijaya and Krishna find themselves irresistibly drawn back to one another, despite the differences in their class and background. But this is not the India they once knew. Their country is changing, burning from the inside out. Irumi is no longer safe.
Advance Praise
'The Fertile Earth made me think about so many things, from family and love to politics and violence. The scope of this brilliant novel is vast. Absolutely captivating.’ Luan Goldie, author of Nightingale Point
'The Fertile Earth is an unforgettable novel. It's beautifully written, immersive, clear-eyed in its depiction of caste and oppression, yet tender in its portrayal of heartbreak and hope.’ Deepa Anappara, author of Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line and The Last of Earth
'What a marvelous writer Ruthvika is... The Fertile Earth is a compulsively readable novel.' Margot Livesey, author of The Boy in The Field
'Lush, bold, haunting and heartbreaking. The story of a forbidden love against the violent backdrop of post-independent India, The Fertile Earth had me gripped. Rao’s gorgeous prose leaps off the page in this impressive and unforgettable debut novel.’ Alba Arikha, author of Two Hours
'Held me spellbound... Ruthvika Rao is a fearless writer, and her debut is nothing short of dazzling.' Tania James, author of Loot
'An astonishing, intelligent epic set during the early decades of post-Independence India... A novel you will not be able to forget.' Angela Flournoy, author of The Turner House
'This is an inspired, gorgeous book, and Ruthvika Rao's storytelling has a confident, compassionate intelligence―I'd follow her bright voice anywhere.' Natalie Bakopoulos, author of Scorpionfish
'Bold, sensual, and captivating, The Fertile Earth pits love against memory, love against class, love against politics, love against time, love against all. Read it, and find out which one wins.' Shobha Rao, author of Girls Burn Brighter
'An achingly beautiful book... A spellbinding epic of land, class, and family in post-independence India. Vijaya, Krishna, Ranga, and Sree are formidable characters whose choices never fail to upend expectations, hurtling towards a future of earth-shattering emotional reverberations.' Aube Rey Lescure, author of River East, River West
‘Phenomenal… It would be simplistic to describe this brilliant novel as “rich girl meets poor boy,” yet that is the essence that takes deep root and blossoms in assured and breathtaking ways... Precisely etched characters, vivid descriptions, and a taut story line meld to deliver a masterpiece.’ Booklist
Available Editions
| EDITION | Audiobook, Unabridged |
| ISBN | 9781038685865 |
| PRICE | |
| DURATION | 12 Hours, 15 Minutes |
Available on NetGalley
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