About the Book

A NEW TRANSLATION OF A MALAYALAM CLASSIC THAT MASTERFULLY BLENDS FACT AND FICTION.
In the year 1741, King Marthandavarma would create history by thwarting the expansionist ambitions of the Dutch colonists in the decisive battle of Kolachal. But we meet him here as a young beleaguered prince—one who must defend his right to the throne of Travancore. As he navigates the web of courtly intrigues and personal vendettas spun by his cousin Padmanabhan Thambi and the influential Pillais of the Eight Houses, help comes from all directions—from the crazy Channan, the courageous Subhadra and the loyal Mankoyikkal Kurup. At the same time, having been accused of murdering his friend Ananthapadmanabhan, Marthandavarma must now not only prove his own innocence but also rise to the occasion as a ruler capable of defeating foreign imperialistic forces.
C.V. Raman Pillai’s Marthandavarma is not only one of the earliest novels in Malayalam but is also perhaps the first political novel of India, unique in its depiction of a history-making people’s movement. Pillai’s deft use of the prevalent idioms of the time, his nuanced characterisation of women and his sharp observations on sociopolitical events set this novel apart as a milestone in the development of Malayalam literature. Preserving the essence of the original, while also making it accessible to readers unfamiliar with Malayalam, this new English translation by G.S. Iyer opens the doors to Pillai’s seminal work to a global audience.

About the Author

C.V. Raman Pillai (1858-1922), popularly known as C.V., was a prominent Indian writer, journalist and politician. Born in the princely state of Travancore (now part of Kerala), he was a pioneer of Malayalam fiction. His rich body of work that includes iconic novels like Marthandavarma, Dharmaraja and Ramaraja Bahadur continues to receive acclaim and scholarly attention.

About the Translator

G.S. Iyer, a career diplomat, is also a scholar in Malayalam and Tamizh, and has rendered several classics from these languages into English. He has served in China, Japan, Iran, Nepal, Bhutan and the US, and was India’s ambassador to Morocco, Mexico and several Central American states. He was conferred the Grand Cordon of the Wissam Alaoui, Morocco’s highest civilian honour by His Majesty King Hassan II of Morocco.
He has also published A China Primer on China’s History and Four Crises, a study of his experiences in diplomacy.
He lives in Greater Noida, UP with his wife.