Indigo: A Novel of India
SYNOPSIS: A novel of life in an Indian garrison town, Amritpore, this story tells of the attraction and repulsion among the French, English, and natives who live in uneasy proximity. Representative of the ruling English are John Macbeth and his pretty cousin, Bertie Wood, old Mrs. Lyttleton, and various officials. Among the French residents, the widowed Madame de St. Remy despises the English. She is insanely jealous of Mrs. Lyttleton, whom she accuses of having alienated her husband from her and from his faith, and who has befriended Madame’s dark-haired son Jacques. Jacques has both English and native friends, particularly the young Hindu, Hardyal. Hardyal’s father, Ganpat Rai, is friendly toward the English, but the dour, suspicious Moslem, Abdul Salim, hates them. Salim’s seditious utterances have already roused official anger.