 | |
| Author | Tahmima Anam |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel,War novel |
| Publisher | John Murray (UK) |
Publication date | March 2007 (UK) |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| ISBN | 0-7195-6010-1 |
| OCLC | 181926640 |
| Followed by | The Good Muslim |
A Golden Age is the first novel of theBangladesh-born writerTahmima Anam.[1] It tells the story of theBangladesh War of Liberation through the eyes of one family.[2] The novel was awarded the prize for Best First Book in theCommonwealth Writers' Prize 2008. It was also shortlisted for the 2007Guardian First Book Award. The first chapter of the novel appeared in the January 2007 edition ofGranta magazine.
In 2022, the novel was included on the "Big Jubilee Read" list of 70 books byCommonwealth authors, selected to celebrate thePlatinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[3]
This historical fiction novel centers the point of view of Rehana Haque, a widowed mother who struggles throughBangladesh Liberation War as both her children become increasingly involved with the war efforts.[4][5] The book starts with the death of Rehana's husband and losing then regaining the custody of her children, and then fast forwards to the start of the war where Rehana struggles again to hold on to her children.[4] Rehana struggles with understanding passionatenationalism of her children and finding her own personal identity outside of being a mother and where her sense of nationalism fits into that identity. The book ends16 December 1971, the day that the treaty is signed and Bangladesh gained their independence.[1]
The authorTahmima Anam was born in Bangladesh, but grew up traveling around the world due to the work of her father,Mahfuz Anam, who is the editor ofThe Daily Star.[6]
The author was inspired by her family's personal experience of their role in theBangladesh Independence war. She grew up listening to the stories of her grandmother harboring freedom fighters and hiding guns and weapons in the family garden.[6]
This led the author to be inspired to write about everyday citizens' war experience and small, but meaningful ways they can become revolutionaries.[7]
Bangladesh was known asEast Pakistan before its fight for independence fromPakistan in the Bangladesh Liberation War.[8]
East Pakistan was formed whenBritish rule ended in India and Pakistan was formed in 1947.[5] The territories were situated on either side ofIndia as the book phrases "a pair of horns" on either side of India.[1][4] This large separation between the two territories led to East Pakistan to be treated like a colony.[9] The West controlled the political majority and economic distribution of both territories.[9] There were also major cultural differences between the two territories. Pakistan mainly practicedIslam and spokeUrdu. Whereas East Pakistan had both Muslim and Hindu populations and spoke mainly Bengali.[9] The inequality, neglect, and differences led to the unrest in East Pakistan. The call for independence fromWest Pakistan led to the Bangladesh Liberation War.[5][10]
The mounting Bengali nationalist movement led to the Pakistan army to carry outOperation Searchlight. This military operation targeted Bengali intellectuals, academics including university students, and Hindus. They were captured, tortured, and/or killed.[5] This led to the1971 Bangladesh genocide that caused millions of refugees to flee to India and the deaths of 58,000 to 3,000,000 civilians. The exact number of deaths is still unknown.[5][10]
The book features the attacks on the city ofDhaka duringOperation Searchlight. Rehana's children escape the attacks onDhaka University due to an engagement party for Silvi.[1][4]
The next day 26 March 1971 theMukti Bahini called for independence from Pakistan and establishment of the new country of Bangladesh.[5] The civil war began in full force.[5][10]
Though the Indian military was already pumping the Bengalis against West Pakistan, the Bengali efforts bore fruit when theIndian Army intervened in December 1971 on the side of the Bengali, Pakistan gave Independence to East Pakistan on 16 December 1971, and thus Bangladesh came into being.[10]
Rehana's whole adult life has centered around her children. As a young widow she fights to regain custody of her children after losing them to her late husband's brother and wife. As her children get older Rehana struggles to relate to them.[11] The struggle to relate intensifies as the tension in East Pakistan increased and then the war starts and their passion for Bengali leads to their involvement and support for the war. Rehana then must struggle to keep her children safe. She would do and sacrifice anything for her children and does by the end of the book. This affliction leads Rehana to struggle with finding her own identity outside of motherhood.[1]
Growing up with two parents that had been involved with the Bangladesh Liberation War,patriotism was important to Anam's family. This theme is reflected in the book.[12]
Throughout the book Rehana struggles with her feelings toward Bangladesh.[9] Rehana grew up in calucutta and then left to west Pakistan after her marriage and her native tongue became Urdu, Rehana does not feel the same sense ofnationalism as her children.[1]
Sohail and Maya were born in Dhaka and their native tongue is Bengali and have an easy loyalty to Bangladesh.[13] She must search within herself if she believes in the war and finding independence for Bangladesh.[1] Rehana finds her nationalism within her own experiences and those she loves that have brought the idea of the nation of Bangladesh to hold significance for her.[1]
Rehana's story shows the often forgotten experience of women in war. Rehana must bear the deepest part of her soul to save her children. This includes giving up the man she grows to love to save her son and herself. This story reveals that while a women's role in war is different, they too do not come out untouched.[1][5]
The book was originally published in the United Kingdom byCanongate Books,[14] and then later published in the United States byHarperCollins.[4] Its original release date was 8 January 2007,[14] and it has been translated into 22 languages.[15]
Upon release,A Golden Age was generally well-received. OnBookmarks Magazine Mar/Apr 2008 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a
(3.5 out of 5) based on critic reviews with the critical summary stating, "Tahmima Anam’s ambitious and powerful debut is the first novel in English to describe Bangladesh’s war for independence, a brutal conflict that left 3 million dead and 10 million homeless."[16]
Clemency Burton-Hill ofThe Guardian described the book as a "stunning debut";[9] David Robson fromThe Sunday Telegraph described its beginning as the struggle of a new author, but the story turns "into a real page-turner, with a bravura, heart-stopping ending";[17] and Theo Chapman fromThe Sydney Morning Herald called the book a "thought-provoking work and a rewarding read".[18]
The book has, however, received some criticism for having factual inaccuracies.[19] This includes citing the 1963 filmCleopatra before it was released which left some critics questioning some of the liberties that Anam took with the fictional characters and telling of the story.[19]