What People are Saying about Karna’s Wheel.
Compelling, multi-layered and beautifully written. Set in Scotland and India, it interweaves class and colonialism across the generations in a novel which is never less than highly entertaining. ~ Chris Given-Wilson, shortlisted for the Wolfson History Prize, 2017
This is top-class historical fiction with strongly realized characters and an emotional punch … one of the most human and engrossing novels I’ve ever read … human history at its finest – making us see the Raj not as a list of events but as a succession of relationships, decisions and human frailties … I absolutely loved the evocative description and lyrical language in this novel and got swept up in the story so much that I didn’t want to leave. I can’t recommend this book highly enough – it’s an intelligent, immersive and atmospheric read that draws you in and holds you tight until you’ve turned the final page. ~ On the Shelf Books; a bookblog for readers
Exquisitely written, quirky, remarkably well-paced and wonderfully readable, Karna’s Wheel is touching, humorous, informative and pretty shocking. The research is faultless but never stands in the way of the telling of a good story. I hope this book gets to where it deserves to be – on the bestseller lists. Incredible work. ~ Robin Pilcher, Novelist.
Historical fiction at the cutting edge, a bravura performance of style and structure. ~ Gordon T Stewart, Professor Emeritus of History at Michigan State University.
A beautifully written historical novel that takes place in Scotland in 1999 and Calcutta, India from 1923- 46. What a story this is! So evocative, thrilling and quirky, I absolutely loved it. The history of the Raj and the jute trade, both in Scotland and India, make for fascinating reading. The secrets that come out of his research and writing were shocking and sad, but the ending was excellent, very satisfactory. I liked all the characters; Seamus in particular is appealing and got me chuckling quite a bit. A must read that deserves to be a big hit. ~ Hannelore Cheney, Reviewer at Sidney Memorial Library, New York
Karna’s Wheel is … such an immersive read … The characters really bring this story alive … Descriptions of the settings are so crisp and vivid, the language used evokes clear images of the periods, and no matter how vastly different Dundee and Calcutta are, they both felt so impressive, so detailed, so terrific. I have to say that after reading this, I really wanted to find out more about jute trading and the connections between Scotland and India. Don’t you just love it when a book inspires you to start looking for knowledge? ~ Kate Noble, The Quiet Knitterer, book blog.
The writing was fluid, beautiful, but easy to read. The historical sections felt real and alive. I could so vividly picture everything described … It is very fluid … at its core, an extremely internal book … very intriguing to read … The story itself was terribly tragic but in some ways still oddly beautiful. ~ M.L.V Reviewer, Net Galley
Dazzling and inventive … an enthralling journey into early twentieth century Calcutta and the dark corners of the Raj. ~ Andrew Duff, Author of Sikkim; requiem for a Himalayan kingdom.
A remarkable, multi-layered narrative that slowly unravels to reveal the truth behind life-changing secrets. Three stories intertwined (mythology, past and present time) aim to answer the most fundamental questions – who are we supposed to be and who can we become. A thoughtful reflection on colonialism and the importance of knowing where you are from. The rich, vivid descriptions – whether in contemporary St Andrews, early Twentieth century Dundee, colonial Calcutta or ancient India – and imaginative character depictions make this novel truly gripping. It ends with a poignant denouement that lingers with you. I can’t recommend this book enough. ~ L.Ines, Goodreads
Just the book to keep you entertained during the long, dark, cold nights … Karna’s Wheel is the literary equivalent of a Russian nesting doll; stories within stories that are revealed as the book moves forward, each one more decorative than the one before … unique writing talent … an almost lyrical style of narrative. ~ Emma Reekie, The Dundee Courier.
