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AbstractHistoryArchive Description
'In Chalaili, an Indian hill station stranded above the clouds, where the trees and flowers are of ravishing hues and the annual monsoon hits with monumental force, a small enclave of British expatriates cling to the glory of a fast-fading empire.
Into this faltering world come two starkly different but memorable women: the larger-than-life Mrs Banerjee, with her armoury of gold bangles and saris in thrilling colours, and Lydia Rushmore, a timid Surrey school teacher hurriedly married off to he town's disgraced meteorologist. Mrs Banerjee sets out to transfer the run-down theatre into Coronation Talkies, a thoroughly modern cinema showing Hollywood's latest love stories. Lydia Rushmore discovers the soothing effects of gin as she tries to fit into hill station society and please her complicated new husband.
'As World War II looms in Europe and British colonial power recedes, Chalaili becomes the setting for trickery, seduction and the unveiling of shocking secrets.' (Publication summary)
Notes
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Dedication: for Graeme, as ever
Affiliation Notes
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Associated with the AustLit subset Australian Literary Responses to 'Asia' as the work contains Indian characters and an Indian setting.
Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of
Works about this Work
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Tea and Scrutiny
2005
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 17-18 September 2005; (p. 2) -
In Short : Fiction
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Sydney Morning Herald , 4-5 December 2004; (p. 12)
— Review of Small Acts of Kindness 2003 single work novel ; Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel -
New Fiction
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: Canberra Sunday Times , 21 November 2004; (p. 19)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel ; Drown Them in the Sea 2003 single work novel -
All the Raj
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , November no. 266 2004; (p. 51)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel -
First Novel
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 23 October 2004; (p. 6)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel
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Love in a Time of Empire
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 16-17 October 2004; (p. 15)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel -
A Passage to India to Relish
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Advertiser , 23 October 2004; (p. 9)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel -
First Novel
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: The Age , 23 October 2004; (p. 6)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel -
All the Raj
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: Australian Book Review , November no. 266 2004; (p. 51)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel -
New Fiction
2004
single work
review
— Appears in: Canberra Sunday Times , 21 November 2004; (p. 19)
— Review of Coronation Talkies 2004 single work novel ; Drown Them in the Sea 2003 single work novel -
Tea and Scrutiny
2005
single work
column
— Appears in: The Weekend Australian , 17-18 September 2005; (p. 2)
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cIndia,cSouth Asia, South and East Asia, Asia,