A vivid and emotive work of fiction, The Henna Artist takes you to the Pink City of Jaipur, India, in the 1950s and along on a young woman’s desperate search for freedom, fulfilment, and a chance to shape her own destiny.

Long cursed as 'the bad luck girl', Lakshmi finally takes action to change her fate. At age 17, she flees her abusive marriage, travels alone to Jaipur and applies her ingenuity and remarkable talent to a livelihood. She becomes a highly sought out henna artist, earning the admiration and trust of wealthy, upper-class women. While taking great pride and pleasure in her work, Lakshmi is careful to avoid the jealous gossips that could ruin her reputation. She is also plagued by the fear that the secrets of her past — and her husband — will one day catch up with her.

The Henna Artist tells the gripping story of a young woman’s journey to build a life for herself in a society struggling between the traditional and the modern, beauty and brutality. In her debut novel, Alka Joshi masterfully weaves a coming of age tale against a lush backdrop of India in the post-Raj era.

Born in India, Joshi emigrated to the United States with her family as a child. She fell in love with her native country and discovered her calling as an author when she returned to India with her mother as an adult. Surrounded by India’s rich, vibrant culture, she wanted to learn more about its history and her mother’s life there as a girl and a young woman. A deeply personal novel, The Henna Artist was born from that experience and the questions they sparked, which led to extensive research and several return trips to India.

Sumptuously narrated by Sneha Mathan, this ambitious, bold, beautifully-crafted audiobook will hook you from the first word and take you on a journey through India. The Henna Artist is a moving story of courage, escape, destiny and finding your own path. The next instalment in Lakshmi’s journey, The Secret Keeper of Jaipur, is available now.