Overview

Set on a Bengali noble's estate in 1908, this is both a love story and a novel of political awakening.

Central Character

The central character, Bimala, is torn between the duties owed to her husband, Nikhil, and the demands made on her by the radical leader, Sandip.

Thematic Reflection

Her attempts to resolve the irreconcilable pressures of the home and world reflect the conflict in India itself, and the tragic outcome foreshadows the unrest that accompanied Partition in 1947.