Wily old women, a clever nanny goat, a helpful snake, a boy who becomes invisible, a sorcerer king ... Peopled with extraordinary beings - both real and magical, human and divine, animal and demon - this is a charming collection of folktales that has humour, fantasy and adventure in equal measure. Retold in a lively, contemporary style, there's humour, adventure and amazing flights of fantasy in these stories. The quirky illustrations add to the charm of this collection.
A little girl, Manikarnika, with an uncanny sense of her own destiny, grew up to be none other than the brave queen of Jhansi, Rani Lakshmibai. Trained in horse riding and the martial arts from an early age, Manu was married to Gangadhar Rao, the Maharaja of Jhansi, when she was thirteen. Soon after her husband's death, the reins of the kingdom passed on to her, and she took up this responsibility undeterred and fearless. When Jhansi faced the danger of annexation, she fought against the British with unflinching courage, losing her life in the course of the battle. She has since become one of the most inspiring heroes of the freedom struggle and a much-admired role model.Deepa Agarwal chronicles the life and times of this legendary character in a gripping narrative, drawing a colourful portrait of bravery. This riveting account also includes nuggets of information about the eventful year 1857, making for a fascinating read.