‘Natasha Rai's The Bride Price is a searing howl against the patriarchy. Rai's women are schemers, survivors and warriors, and I read each one of them in thrall.’ – Siang Lu, award-winning author of Ghost Cities
‘Boldly imagined and beautifully written, The Bride Price weaves together the stories of three women separated by millennia yet bound by a common struggle for autonomy and self-determination. Ambitious in scope and rich in insight, it explores power, freedom and survival with sparkling intelligence and deep humanity. I can’t stop thinking about it.’ – Emily Maguire, award-winning author of Rapture
‘A wonderfully audacious act of connection. Natasha Rai knows why we tell stories – across generations, across continents, across the distances of time – because each telling changes what we inherit. The women who come before us help us to imagine what comes next. This novel is glorious, golden proof.’ – Beejay Silcox
‘Richly imagined and fiercely intelligent, The Bride Price crosses centuries and worlds to ask what women owe their families, their societies and themselves. Ambitious, compassionate and utterly compelling.’ – Shankari Chandran, Miles Franklin Award–winning author of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens
A polyphonic, time-travelling novel about the fierce, heartbreaking struggle of women's resistance to patriarchy.
Cornelia, a politician's wife, plans for the day her son will be elected as ancient Rome's next leader. Thwarted at every turn by the men in her life, she becomes increasingly ruthless in her pursuit of power.
In South London, teenaged Jaya dreams of becoming a nurse. The only way to make this happen is to escape her violent family, who plan an arranged marriage for her. When she is caught mid-escape she is taken to India, where an uncertain future awaits.
Naav is the leader of Kirandi, what remains of so-called Australia in the year 2850. When her father, Mudaris, betrays her in a coup, Naav is pushed to find her own strength and determination to fight back, as she is the only one who can restore peace.
Immersive and deeply resonant, The Bride Price is the story of three women – in the ancient past, the contemporary world and in a distant future – pushing against the limits defined by the men in their lives, and the beauty of the struggle within and between their times.
