Seeta

The third and final in a series, ‘Seeta’ is an eponymous novel, set against the backdrop of Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, or the First War of Indian Independence as it is now regarded. The first and second parts are‘Tara’ and ‘Ralph Darnell’ respectively. Written by [Philip] Meadows Taylor, this novel narrates the story of the widow Seeta and her husband, a British civil servant, and what they and their friends and family undergo before, during and after the uprising. Other than the uprising, some incidents, such as the dacoity that the novel opens with – Taylor himself was engaged in its trial in the district court – are authentic; others are products of his creativity – as are the characters and some locations. However, the situations and events are all believable, the characters are well-drawn and relatable, and the book is free of the prejudice that one often sees in novels of that era.