Tiger Moon

by: Antonia Michaelis; Translated by Anthea Bell

Published by: Amulet Books

Reviewed by Jill Stovall

Antonia Michaelis involves you in a magical quest the likes of which would have made Rudyard Kipling invite her to afternoon tea. Her collaboration with gifted translator Anthea Bell imbues the language with perfect Anglo-Indian dialect and quality.

The journey weaves together the lives and adventures of people as diverse as India itself. Wealthy merchant, Ahmed Mudhi, discovered a young girl named Safia dreaming under a date palm. As his gorgeous black horses pranced nearby and his men hurried to do his bidding, Ahmed Mudhi decided that she was the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. And though he had many other wives he would not be satisfied until he negotiated a marriage with the innocent virgin for that same evening. Her family had no money, and were not of the same religion. Money resolved all of these obstacles, and her family was left prosperous.

Safia’s terrible journey to become one of the many wives of a Rajah had begun. She knew her death was imminent because she was not a virgin. She tried to escape many times. Each time that she was captured her fear for her life was renewed. But circumstances conspired to allow her many days before the marriage was consummated.

During this time she told a story of magical and fascinating proportions to the young eunuch who tended the wives at the palace.

This story begins with Farhad, who abandoned as a child was relegated to the life of beggar and thief surviving on the fringes of society. He is cast into the role of hero. Feeling totally incompetent and given nothing but riddles to unravel, Farhad unwillingly begins this quest. Nitish is a sacred white tiger with magical abilities to fly. Farhad overcomes amazing obstacles with the help of the mystical white tiger Nitish and discovers the kindness and compassion within himself as he completes his journey.
We travel along in wonder and confusion as we discover the people, places, gods and goddesses of India.

Tiger Moon meets the simple yet profound criteria in literature. It is as Mark Twain would say, “…a good story well told… .” This story possesses the qualities to become an enduring classic.

Armchair Interviews agrees.