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ShareMadhulika Liddle's first attempt at writing fiction is quite an engaging read -- not just among ardent fans of mystery novels, but also among those who have a fair enough interest in Mughal art and architecture.
Making an earnest effort to create the image of an indigenous mystery solver, it's a refreshing change from reaching out for a Western author, to quench our thirst for some fast-paced stuff, Liddle quite succeeds. The plot is interesting, the characters intriguing and the ease with which she turns a picturesque setting into a morbid topography as
the storyline proceeds is commendable.
The plot starts off with good pace, shifting the audience's attention from an ongoing elephant fight to a murder that takes place in another part of town. The young, handsome protagonist Muzaffar Jung sets out on a journey that takes him across the country, fighting conniving haveli-dwelling rulers, resisting temptations from ethereal dancers and making friends along the way.
The book holds special charm for those who are interested in art and architecture of the distant Mughal era. Through the pages, exotic bazaars, imposing sandstone walls and intricate jharokhas come alive and take the reader on a trip down memory lane. Everything is picturesque but somehow the characters are slightly clichéd -- the bad man gets bumped off in the beginning of the play, the beautiful courtesan suddenly seems capable of misdeeds and the two murders seem to be linked from the beginning.
Whatever be its shortcomings, The Englishman's Cameo is definitely a refreshing read.
An interestingly fast-paced plot set in the idyllic setting of a by-gone era.
Title: The Englishman's Cameo
Author: Madhulika Liddle
Published by: Hachette, India
Price: Rs295
Rating: ****
