Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a writer, activist, and teacher. She is also the author of 20 books, including Mistress of Spices, Sister of My Heart, and Before We Visit the Goddess. Her work has been published in more than 100 magazines and anthologies and translated into 30 languages. Her awards include an American Book Award and a PEN Josephine Miles Award. In 2015 The Economic Times placed her on their List of 20 Most Influential Global Indian Women. Based on true-life events, The Last Queen: A Novel of Courage and Resistance (William Morrow Paperbacks) tells the story of Jindan. Sharp-eyed, stubborn, and passionate, she was known for her beauty. When she caught the eye of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, she became royalty, his youngest and last queen. When her son, barely 6 years old, unexpectedly inherited the throne, Jindan assumed the regency. She transformed herself from pampered wife to a warrior ruler, determined to protect her people and her son’s birthright from the encroaching British Empire. The Last Queen is a love story of a king and a commoner, a cautionary tale about loyalty and betrayal, and a powerful parable of the indestructible bond between mother and child.
