Summary of The Glass Palace

The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh is an epic novel set in Burma, Malaysia, and India, spanning from the British colonization of Burma in 1885 to the present day. Set against the backdrop of a tumultuous and ever-shifting political landscape, the novel follows the lives of Rajkumar, Dolly, and their families as they struggle to make sense of their place in the world. Through the intertwined stories of three generations, we follow Rajkumar’s journey from poverty to wealth, forced separation from his beloved Dolly, and the formation and break-up of a powerful dynasty. Along the way, we experience the complex culture, customs, and politics of each region, and witness how characters are shaped by and respond to their unique circumstances.