{"product_id":"9780141004303","title":"First Light","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis historical fiction novel transports readers to Bengal at the turn of the twentieth century, a time when old ways press against new ambitions. Through a wide cast of artists, reformers, performers, and ordinary people, it explores art and love, spiritual awakening, and the birth of a modern sensibility. The intended reader is adults and literary history enthusiasts who relish immersive narratives and richly drawn cultures. The tone is expansive, lyrical, and hopeful, with a sense of intellectual energy and adventurous curiosity.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eStructured as a story-led panorama, the tale moves from quiet countryside to the bustling heart of Calcutta, weaving personal journeys with the public stir of theatre, science, and nationalist sentiment. The prose crackles with color and texture—music, ritual, debate, and vivid dialogue—pulling readers into a living, breathing era. Readers follow distinctive threads that connect intimate decisions to broad social change, experiencing how art and faith contend with tradition while paving paths toward renewal.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThough fictional, the narrative doubles as a cultural history of a region in transition, inviting reflection on how individuals navigate constraints to pursue knowledge, craft, and dignity. It is a multi-generational journey that emphasizes resilience, self-respect, and the aspiration to redefine identity in a changing world.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVivid historical setting spanning rural villages to a bustling metropolis, capturing Bengal’s awakening era\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnsemble cast drawn to art, spirituality, science, and social reform, with personal stories interwoven with national momentum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLyrical, panoramic writing that blends sensory detail with cultural texture—music, theatre, ritual, and debate\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eExploration of timeless themes such as identity, ambition, duty, love, and resilience within a modernizing society\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBehind-the-scenes glimpses of theatre and literary life as engines of cultural progress\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eAfter finishing, readers gain a richer understanding of a pivotal cultural awakening, a deeper empathy for individuals navigating tradition and progress, and a lasting sense of curiosity about history, art, and the shaping of a modern nation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Crossword.in","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48540395110617,"sku":"BK0029882","price":808.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0648\/3066\/9017\/files\/71xt_Xvz4dL._SL1500.jpg?v=1776674898","url":"https:\/\/www.crossword.in\/products\/9780141004303","provider":"Crossword.in ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}