Lives of Adventure: On the uprising of 1857 and stories based on other historical events | Eye News, The Indian Express

Lives of Adventure: On the uprising of 1857 and stories based on other historical events | Eye News, The Indian Express

Written by Paromita Chakrabarti |New Delhi |Updated: October 6, 2019 10:00:24 am

Lives of Adventure: On the uprising of 1857 and stories based on other historical events

A curated list of recommendations for the young ’uns. This week, on historical novels.

The revolt of 1857. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The hallmark of Parvati Sharma’s writing — be it for adults or for children — is a breeziness of touch that makes even the most mundane of events come alive with a sense of wonder and a gentle humour. Sharma’s first book for children was a delightful biography of Babur, but in Rattu and Poorie’s Adventures in History: 1857 (2019; Puffin Books), this time she turns her attention to the Uprising of 1857 and the people and events central to it. Through the story of two sisters, Rattu and Poorie, Sharma weaves the exploits of the historical personages — from Lakshmibai to the Maratha Peshwa Nana Sahib to the last Mughal Bahadur Shah Zafar — into context. The result is an easy charming read, just right for children aged eight years and above.