A review by sirissacgluten
The East Indian by Brinda Charry

adventurous challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.75

The East Indian is a unique bildungsroman grounded in extensive historical research. Inspired by Titania's "little changeling boy" from A Midsummer Night's Dream and a American colonial record of a seventeenth-century man named Tony from [what was then called] East India, Charry's vivid novel tackles themes of race, class, solidarity, and identity. We follow Tony from his birthplace on India's Coromandel Coast to the rough frontier of colonial Virginia as he navigates the loneliness of life as an indeterminate 'Other' on the margins of English society. However, along with the violence and isolation Tony suffers, he also finds community among fellow indentured servants, a passion for healing, and a fondness for nature. Charry deftly balances the real-life injustices of the early 'New World' alongside moments of joy and introspection.

I really enjoyed this one. I would give it a 4/5 for personal enjoyment, but I'm bumping it up due to the amount of research you can feel in the narrative and the unique perspective that is much-needed in historical fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings