Loot: An epic historical novel of plundered treasure and lasting love

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An epic historical heist novel of plundered treasure, savage empire, lasting love and a young man's dream to make his mark on the world. From an Indian American writer at the height of her powers. 'Loot held me spellbound from the first page...an expertly-plotted, deeply affecting novel ' Maggie O'Farrell Young toy maker and dreamer Abbas is whisked away to Tipu Sultan's glorious palace in Mysore and ordered to create a musical tiger to delight Tipu's sons. When he is apprenticed to eccentric clockmaker Monsieur Du Leze, Abbas finds an unexpected friend who encourages his skill and hunger for learning. Through Du Leze, he also meets the unforgettable Jehanne, who has questions and ambitions of her own. But when British soldiers attack and loot Mysore, Abbas's world is turned upside down and his prized tiger is shipped off to a country estate in England. In order to carve out his place in the world, he must follow. A hero's quest, a love story, an exuberant heist novel that traces the bloody legacy of colonialism across the world, Loot is a dazzling, wildly inventive and irresistible feat of storytelling. 'A thrilling, absorbing and immersive tale of artistry, adventure and romance' Claire Fuller 'A cinematic novel of empire, colonialism and romance...Loot asks who gets written out of history and why' Guardian 'Immersive and beautifully written...a clever and absorbing novel about empire and belonging' Sunday Times

Reviews

[An] epic sweep of a novel, which travels from India to Europe in the company of a fascinating range of characters...Niftily constructed, the novel packs in doomed romance, the horrors of colonialism and palace plots * Daily Mail *
Strongly recommending this exquisitely crafted and rich historical story to everyone I know . . . Tania James has created such a visceral, powerful story that it felt like I was in a time travelling machine -- Nikita Gill
Addictively absorbing * New York Times Book Review *
A real-life object of fascination an 18th-century automaton depicting a tiger biting into an Englishmans neck is the basis for this novel...lush with the sights, sounds and smells of India, France and England, and always laced with Dickensian wit * Washington Post, *Ten Best Books of the Year* *
Loot held me spellbound from the first page. This is an expertly-plotted, deeply affecting novel about war, displacement, emigration, and an elusive mechanical tiger. -- Maggie OFarrell
A novel of wonder and terror and beauty - I was completely captivated by it. -- Kamila Shamsie
Elegantly crafted and beautifully written, Jamess exciting adventure story considers the legacy of colonial oppression and the ownership of plundering historical artifacts. Highly recommended * Mail on Sunday *
'A novel about the pleasures of artifice...a vivid and witty reimagining of an episode of history that continues to shape the present * Observer *
Richly researched and full of heart, LOOT is a beautifully crafted novel, artfully realised and deeply compelling. Abbas and Jehanne (and Rum!) are captivating characters who positively leap from the pages, and I felt bereft when their story came to an end. I just loved it. -- Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora
James's ravishing prose and trademark blend of lyricism and suspense animate this ingenious caper meets politically acute coming-of-age story * Oprah Daily *

Author Bio

Tania James's debut novel Atlas of Unknowns was a New York Times Editor's Choice and was shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian literature. She has also written the short story collection Aerogrammes, and her stories have appeared in the New Yorker, Granta, Freeman's- The Future of New Writing, One Story and A Public Space. The Tusk That Did the Damage was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize. From 2011 to 2012, Tania James was a Fulbright fellow to India living in New Delhi. She now lives in Washington DC.