From AudioFile The first novel in a planned trilogy, A GOLDEN AGE captures the experience of Rehana Haque, mother of two, and is set against the backdrop of the 1971 Bangladesh war for independence. As a young widowed mother, Rehana loses custody of her children. After she gets them back, she vows never to lose them again. But Rehana cannot insulate her family from the war's impact--her children become involved in the rebellion. The talented Madhur Jaffrey narrates this story evenly and compassionately, drawing readers into Rehana's life and the complexities of civil war. Creating memorable characters through subtle shifts in tone and accent, Jaffrey gives life to imperious Indian women, humble servants, and fervent college students. Her portrait of Rehana--devoted mother, unlikely heroine--is particularly nuanced and compelling. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine Product Description As young widow Rehana Haque awakes one March morning, she might be forgiven for feeling happy. Her children are almost grown, the city is buzzing with excitement after recent elections. Change is in the air.But no one can foresee what will happen in the days and months that follow. For this is East Pakistan in 1971, a country on the brink of war. And this family's life is about to change forever.Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, A Golden Age is a story of passion and revolution, of hope, faith, and unexpected heroism. In the chaos of this era, everyone must make choices. And as she struggles to keep her family safe, Rehana will be forced to face a heartbreaking dilemma. From Publishers Weekly Anam's account of a widow living in East Pakistan in the early 1970s just as the country erupts into war is a moving tale that narrator Madhur Jaffrey manages to connect with on a very personal level. Aside from a brief musical intro that helps to capture central character Rehana Haque's sheer joy upon awakening one sunny morning, the reading is an interpersonal experience. Jaffrey's grainy British accent takes on a hint of the rolling Pakistani dialect, with her pronunciation pitch perfect and realistic. Jaffrey seems legitimately attached to the story, as she captures the melancholy that Haque cannot avoid throughout the story. Her performance enhances characters that are already textured and rich with personality. There is a certain loneliness in Jaffrey's omniscient narrator, a characteristic that allows the listener to paint a clear and vivid portrait of a fantastic journey that is as heartbreaking as it is inspiring. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Bangladesh’s War for Independence from Pakistan in 1971 radically changed the fortunes of middle-class widow Rehana Haque, whose college-age children become guerillas to try to destabilize the government. Soon, Haque becomes enmeshed with the struggle, ingeniously working against the oppressors. This debut novel tells the heroic story of the emergence of Bangladesh, with Haque’s actions symbolizing the revolutionary, transformative nature of the conflict. Born in India and an accomplished actress, Jaffrey is ideally suited to read this dramatic tale. Speaking in somewhat gritty tones, yet in a charming lilt, she is particularly apt in her portrayal of the protagonist. Her complete mastery of dramatic scenes easily encompasses the wide emotional range of this demanding and tender story. --Barbara Baskin About the Author Tahmima Anam is an anthropologist and a novelist. Her debut novel, A Golden Age, won the 2008 Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best First Book. In 2013, she was named one of Granta’sBest Young British Novelists. She is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and was a judge for the 2016 International Man Booker Prize. Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she was ed