Dinah Jefferies has a wonderful ability to transport her readers deep into the heart of each of her novels and ‘Before the Rains’ is no exception. Set in India in the 1930s, it centres on the life of Eliza Fraser who is breaking new ground by being assigned by the British as an official photographer within the royal palace, where she will spend a year capturing the lives of the royal family in Rajputana.
Eliza is no stranger to India or to heartache, having witnessed the death of her father at an early age in Dehli before moving to England. She returns to India newly widowed and armed with a steely determination to establish herself as a talented and respected photojournalist. Along the way, she encounters prejudice, unusual customs and of course, romance when she meets Prince Jay, the younger, somewhat nomadic, brother of the ruling prince.
There are many twists and turns to the plot and the culture, customs and landscape of India at that time are seamlessly interwoven, creating truly atmospheric scenes and evoking a real sense of time and place. An historical novel bursting with colour and a fabulous read!
Pickled Thoughts and Pinot 