The Peshwa: The Lion & the Stallion (Book Review)

The Peshwa: The Lion & the Stallion

Book details

Title – The Peshwa: The Lion & The Stallion

Author – Ram Sivasankaran

Genre – Historical Fiction

Publisher – Westland Ltd.  

No of pages – 338

Main characters – Balaji Bajirao Bhat, Bajirao Bhat, Nizam-Ul-Mulk,Malhar Rao Holkar & Ranoji Scindia, Kashibai, Maharaj Shahu

Other characters – Nizam’s son Rahim, Bangash, Ala, Maharaj Shahu’s loyal messenger Mankar

Plot

It’s time to go back in 18^th Century and turn some pages of history. The story about the dominant Mughal Rule and the rising of young Peshwa Bajirao Bhat revolves around the golden time of history. The peace of Maratha power is threatened by the Mughal invasion as well as the internal rebellion. Unfortunately, Balaji Vishwanath Bhat, Peshwa of the Confederacy, surrenders his life to terminal illness but he ensures that he instills the same warrior skills in his son, Bajirao Bhat before he dies. Now it is the do-or-die situation for Bajirao Bhat to regain the glory and peace among Maratha Empire. After the death of his father will he be able to serve justice to huge Maratha Empire? Will he rise and shine just like his father? Will he defy & threaten the existence of Nizam-Ul-Mulk? Will he live up to the title of Peshwa?

For these questions, you must dig deeper in The Peshwa: The Lion & the Stallion.

Review

It’s a beautiful historical fiction neatly woven with smart words and vocabulary. As we all know the great historical figure Bajirao, the Peshwa, whose name has always been referred with Mastani. However, this time author has shed light on the golden history of Maratha rulers instead of taking the same old route of love story. He has moved us from focusing on Peshwa’s love interest to his rising as a Peshwa, his struggles and more. Again, the author outsmarts all of us as he introduces the Princess of Bundelkhand, Mastani in the last chapter of novel keeping our interest intact and enticed.

Writing style

History has been a boring subject for many of us but writers within you, will certainly enjoy this novel. The writing of The Peshwa: The Lion & the Stallion is very intriguing. Each chapter is beautifully written as the story progresses we can actually imagine what would have been the life in that era. The author has done his homework well as apt vocabulary does the justice to the era of 18^th century. Each chapter stirs your visualization.

What’s new?

The title of the each chapter is extremely appropriate. For instance the titles like A serpent in the Eagle’s Next, Chameleon and Heroes & Villains conveys as the chapter unfolds. Below are some of the interesting sentences from novel The Peshwa: The Lion & the Stallion

Interesting Sentences

• Multitudes of saffron banners of the Confederacy fluttered against the pink evening sky.

• As family, we must live to support each other through storm & gale, through fire & smoke.

• Time flowed like hardened butter.

The moral of the story

Old is always gold!

My rating: 5/5

I strongly recommend to all the readers out there. Keep aside the old saga of Bajirao-Mastani & refresh yourself with this historical fiction. 

About the author

The author Ram Sivasankaran, was born in Madras, India, but has spent most of his life abroad – largely in the Middle East and the United States of America.

Ram makes his debut with a historical novel, The Peshwa (The Lion & the Stallion), portrays timeless character, Bajirao Bhat, Peshwa of the Maratha Confederacy.

To know more about the author, visit https://twitter.com/ramsivasankaran

You can order a copy of this novel from Amazon or Flipkart.

“I received a free copy from WritersMelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.”