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| Shadow of the Moon | 
 enlarge | Author: Mary Margaret Kaye
Publisher: Julian Messner, Inc
Category: Book
Buy Used: $2.80
Used (8) Collectible (1) from $2.80
Avg. Customer Rating:  21 reviews
Sales Rank: 3279211
Media: Hardcover
Edition: Book Club
Pages: 351
ASIN: B0007DUB6S
Publication Date: January 29, 1957
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
They can't believe they're on the eve of destruction... June 27, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
"Shadow of the Moon" is the story of the time before and after the Sephoy rebellion. It is the story of two people who are passionate about India, Winter and Alex. As an officer in the Indian army, Alex is asked to escort seventeen year old English/Spanish/Indian heiress Winter back to the land of her birth, to the man she has been engaged too since age eleven. Alex expects an older woman-a spinster with no other option than to marry his corpulent, drug and alcohol addled chief. But Winter's true age, and her childish attachment to the handsome man she was affianced too brings out a resented sense of responsibility in Alex and he continues to watch over her in India.
I read in the back of my copy of "Shadow of the Moon" that the original version, published in the 1950's, contained less than half of the original manuscript, which was re-printed in its entirety in the 80's. It's easy when reading this book to see what would have been cut out-M.M. Kaye is great at describing social interactions, clothing and landscapes but she isn't so good when describing the politics that went on before the Sephoy rebellion. So the original book would have been (I imagine) a romance with very little insight to the political ramifications of the British occupation of India. It's a pity that the real manuscript took too long to come out because while it has its slow parts it is a very complete picture of two very different societies occupying the same space and expecting to co-exist.
Winter and Alex, our main characters, represent two very different aspects of India. Though both were born and to some extent, raised there, neither is actually of the land (though they both posses physical traits which allow them to fake it.) Winter, because of her sex and marriage is incorporated in British India, and Alex, even though he works for the British army, has an understanding of the Indian feelings toward the British that most people can hardly grasp. So he spends the majority of the novel sneaking around, finding information about the rebellion he believes will happen soon. Naturally, no one believes him because with the conceit of the conquerors, the British believe they are enhancing and improving Indian society and culture.
Naturally our hero and heroine develop feelings for each other-which come to a head at the worst possible moment when they are hiding from Indians who are outraged enough to commit atrocities beyond belief.
Like The Far Pavilions this an amazing novel full of romance, vivid descriptions of culture, places, clothing and attitudes of the time. While not quite as engaging as "Pavilions" (mostly because of the political discussions, which Kaye never really manages to make all that interesting though they should be fascinating) it is head and tails above Trade Wind.(Though of course everything Kaye writes is wonderful, it only varies by slight degrees.)
Five stars. But make sure you get the complete version!
 A good book February 25, 2008
First off, this is a great book. It does have a very old-school writing style (think Charlotte Bronte or Charles Dickens) which I love, but others might not enjoy. The setting, story, and excitement level are all there but it is a little shy of a 5 star rating in my book. Here is why:
1. The characters were not as realistic or as developed as I would have liked. The main female protagonist is almost frustratingly naive while the main male is distant and exceedingly unemotional.
2. Sometimes it reads a little too much like a history book entry.
3. There are very similar but better books. A book called Zemindar focuses on the same period in history (with a similar writing style) only is much more engaging. M.M. Kaye's second novel, The Far Pavilions, is also much better.
So if you are thinking about purchasing this book my suggestion would be to try either Zemindar or The Far Pavilions first and then read this novel if you want more.
M.M. Kaye never disappoints! September 21, 2007
M.M. Kaye is a master storyteller of the epic romance. While some readers may find her heavily stylized writing tedious and a difficult read, one must consider that like her characters, she is an upper-crust, exceedingly well educated British authoress. The richness of detail in which she sets her breathtaking sagas make the places come alive for the reader and the land, their climates, and indigenous peoples all become as integral to her intricate plots as the major characters themselves. Would that I could tell a story like she can!
 Tedious at best September 17, 2007
Shadow of the Moon, is an epic tale of politics and war in India. I found it to be a very long drawn out book that took 3/4 of the way through before I was hooked into the story. I bought it under the understanding that it would be a gothic romance, but it really is more in the epic category. I found the writing to be tedious, and it dragged on and on. When I read the author's note at the back, I came to realize that is was once published abridged, and really that is what it needs. It was so hard for me to connect all the political drama with how long it took to get the story going. Once I got into it, the climax of the book was 3/4 of the way through it, and then the rest of the book got back to the dragging format as before, only not as tedious. I am sure if you love books that are epic in nature you will love this one. Still it is no where the match to Gone With the Wind or The Thornbirds in the writers ability to tell the tale. I personally did not like the book that much.
3 bookmarks out of 5
Star crossed lovers, the British Raj & India, what more can you want in a book? March 20, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This was just an amazing book. Once the author set up her characters and story line things just cooked along -- be prepared for the last 200 pages, because you will not surface for air until it's done! We have Winter, a wealthy heiress born and orphaned in India and sent to England to be raised by mostly uncaring relatives(except for the great-grandfather). When her great-grandfather dies, she is sent at the age of 17 to join her fiancee under the care of Alex Randall, who unbeknownst to her is now a debauched, obese drunk. Alex does try to tell her, but she maintains her childhood image of her "hero" and will not listen, to her great regret.
Lots of trials and tribulations as our hero and heroine travel back to India, the meeting and marriage to Conway and the Sepoy rebellion, and vividly portrayed by an author who has a great knowledge and love of the country and it's history. This is not only a story of two lovers, but one of stubborn, bigoted officials hiding their heads in the sand, treachery, intrigue and the brutal way in which the rebellion played out against the British, even shocking some of their own people. As with The Far Pavilions, it is shocking to see after 150 years not much of life and politics has changed in the Middle East, nor should the Europeans (or Americans now for that matter) be interfering in their life, culture and religion.
Highly recommended for any lover of historical fiction, India, or just a darn good book. This would make an awesome mini series, the sequences from the attack on the British and Alex and Winter's escape are just breathtaking. As a side note for those loooking for well written books for younger readers, this should be a good choice. Originally written in the 50's, the love scenes are quite chaste. Just be prepared for some gory, though accurate, portrayal of the violence aginst the British (including women and children) during the rebellion.
If you enjoy this book, I would also recommend Zemindar. The same topic, the Sepoy rebellion, and beautifully written. The author's prose was gorgeous, very reminiscent of Charlotte Bronte.
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