The Henna Artist

Escaping from an arranged and abusive marriage,seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone from her 1950s rural village to the vibrant pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the henna artist–and confidante–most in demand to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthyshe can never reveal her own… Known for her original designs and sage adviceLakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent lifeshe is startled one day when she is confronted by her husbandwho has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow–a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveresapplying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does. Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman’s struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modernThe Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinatingstark and cruel.