Etched in Gold

A triumph of storytelling. Srinivasan bridges past and present, crafting a novel that honours women's resilience, artistry, and intellectual legacy. --Shankari Chandran, winner of the Miles Franklin Literary Award 2023. A 1630 Sanskrit biography of a Tanjore king etched on palm leaves. A 1620 trade pact between the kings of Tanjore and Denmark recoded on a shimmering gold foil. Overlooking the shores of Tranquebar in south India, a Danish fort stands as a silent sentinel to these lost alliances, echoing tales of ambition and power and the unexpected intertwining of worlds.Two women enliven this forgotten piece of history. Amba, in 1610 Tanjore, a gifted composer and temple musician, gets drawn into a world of politics, power, and peril when she catches the eye of the Tanjore king. The docking of a Danish ship in Tanjore propels Amba on a tumultuous journey of political intrigue and emotional hardship. She perseveres through every challenge and documents the life and reign of King Raghu Nayaka on palm leaves in Sanskrit. Maya, in 2010 Sydney, a carnatic musician from Chennai, finds herself creatively stifled in Sydney, Australia. While on a soul-searching trip through Tanjore, Maya discovers a gripping biography of a Tanjore king left behind by his contemporary, a female scholar and composer. Amba's life as a temple musician in 17th century Tanjore, strikes a chord that awakens Maya's voice to reshape her own destiny. Etched in Gold is a novel about cultural memory, artistic defiance, and the enduring legacy of women's voices. The novel was shortlisted for the Penguin Random House Australia Write It Fellowship, 2023. Etched in Gold transported me to a distant place and time, and made me feel like I belonged. Highly recommended. --Pamela Hart, Award winning Historical Novelist I identified with Maya in contemporary Sydney who struggled with her craft of music. Maya helped me understand Amba in Tanjore in 1610 who was facing similar creative and personal struggles. A wonderful character-driven book. --Cathie Tasker, Editor and Creative Writing Teacher