The Palace of Illusions

A woman’s take on the timeless Hindu tale the Mahabharata, The Palace of Illusions transports us back to a time that is half-history, half-myth, and wholly magical.

In this modern retelling, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni places Panchaali, the wife of the five Pandava brothers, at the heart of the story.

Mystical and epic, the narrative spans from Panchaali’s fiery birth and lonely childhood, where her beloved brother is her only true companion; through her complicated friendship with the enigmatic Krishna; to marriage, motherhood and secret attraction to the mysterious man who is her husbands’ most dangerous enemy.

The Palace of Illusions is a deeply human novel about a woman born into a man’s world – a world of warriors, gods and the ever manipulating hands of fate.

‘A mythic tale brimming with warriors, magic and treachery’ – Los Angeles Times

‘A radiant entree into an ancient mythology . . . Charming and remarkable’ – Houston Chronicle

‘A woman’s look at crime and punishment, loyalty, promises, love and vengeance . . . With The Palace of Illusions, Divakaruni has proven that her storytelling talents put her right up there with the best’ – Miami Herald

Author Biography

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s books include the bestselling novels The Mistress of Spices (longlisted for the Orange Prize), Queen of Dreams, Sister of My Heart and The Palace of Illusions, the prizewinning story collections Arranged Marriage and The Unknown Errors of Our Lives, and the ‘Conch Bearer’ series for children. She teaches creative writing at the University of Houston and divides her time between Houston and the San Francisco Bay area.