The release date for the English version of 'The Henna Artist' by
Alka Joshi is Mar 2020. If you enjoy this novel, it is available for buy as a paperback from Barnes & Noble or Indigo, as an ebook on the Amazon Kindle store, or as an audiobook on Audible.
The Henna Artist offers a door into a world that is both rich and interesting, harsh and merciless. It does this via painting a vivid and captivating portrayal of one woman's battle for fulfilment in a culture that is veering between the traditional and the contemporary.
Lakshmi, 17, leaves her violent marriage behind and travels alone to Jaipur, a brilliant pink city from the 1950s. There, she becomes the most sought-after henna artist and confidante among the upper-class, rich ladies. But she can never divulge her own as she is trusted with the wealthiest people's secrets.
Lakshmi is well-known for her unique designs and wise counsel, but she has to exercise caution to stay away from envious rumours that might destroy her image and her business. One day, while she pursues her ambition of living a self-sufficient existence, she is shocked to see her husband standing in front of her after all these years, bringing along a lively little girl who is her sister, a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. All of a sudden, the prudence she has painstakingly nurtured as defence is called into question. She continues to persist, using her gifts and encouraging everyone around her in the process.