LibrerÃa Samer Atenea
LibrerÃa Aciertas (Toledo)
Kálamo Books
LibrerÃa Perelló (Valencia)
LibrerÃa ElÃas (Asturias)
Donde los libros
LibrerÃa Kolima (Madrid)
LibrerÃa Proteo (Málaga)
DescriptionThe myth of Drishadvati appears in the Mahabharata as the ’story of thesalvation of kings by a maiden.’ While tales of surrogacy abound in theIndian epics, this is the first known example of a womb-on-rent. This strangestory-of a girl whose fertility was bartered repeatedly in exchange forpriceless horses-has intrigued modern scholars, playwrights and authors forits cultural significance. While earlier adaptations have cast its theme as theexploitation of a helpless woman, Bride of the Forest presents it as the story ofgirl who is surprisingly radical in her ultimate rejection of patriarchy.Staying true to the original myths and springing entirely from the world ofthe Mahabharata, the novel brings to life several other characters: Garuda,the divine bird who flies Lord Vishnu around the world: the proud kingsof Ayodhya, Pratisthan and Kashi; the arrogant queen, Devayani, and herduplicitous maid-whose stories reveal an intricate tapestry of human anddivine relationships. Intertwined in the tales of traditional rivalries is theage-old war between the asuras and the devas that gave rise to the perennialmale quest for immortality, transmuted into the human desire for sons thatlies at the root of commercial surrogacy even today. However, it is the story ofDrishadvati, her sacrifice and her nobility, that will enchant the reader. 3
