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A bustling crowd gathers to watch a daring aviation display in the town of Chirapur, only to be stunned when the pilot’s fragile machine breaks apart and crashes to the ground. The sudden disaster sends shockwaves through the spectators—women weep, some faint, while others stare in horrified fascination at the twisted wreckage. In the aftermath, the local doctor’s sister, Eola, tries to steady the nerves of those around her, hinting at the tangled relationships that bind the town’s residents.
Amid the turmoil, a conversation unfolds between Ananda, a newly converted Christian, and Dr. Wenaston’s brother, revealing the uneasy coexistence of British officials and Indian society. Their exchange touches on recent political murders, cultural stereotypes, and the fragile trust between communities. As tensions simmer beneath polite civility, listeners are drawn into a vivid portrait of colonial India, where personal loyalties and societal expectations collide in the shadow of a tragic spectacle.
Language
en
Duration
~9 hours (571K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Al Haines
Release date
Dec 10, 2011
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
d. 1939
Best known for vivid stories set in colonial India, this British novelist drew on decades of firsthand experience to bring Indian settings, customs, and social tensions into popular fiction. Her novels often mix romance, mystery, and careful observation of everyday life.
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