Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni places Sita at the centre of new novel

Author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, whose writing has been included in over 50 anthologies and books translated into 29 languages, will be releasing "The Forest of Enchantments" in January 2019.

"The Ramayana, one of the world's greatest epics, is also a tragic love story. In this brilliant retelling, Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni places Sita at the centre of the novel: this is Sita's version," publisher HarperCollins India announced on Tuesday. 

The publisher said that "The Forest of Enchantments" is also a very human story of some of the other women in the epic, "often misunderstood and relegated to the margins", such as Kaikeyi, Surpanakha and Mandodari. 

Billed as "a powerful comment on duty, betrayal, infidelity and honour", the upcoming novel is also about women's struggle to retain autonomy in a world that privileges men, as Divakaruni transforms an ancient story into a gripping, contemporary battle of wills. 

"A moving meditation on love in its many forms, The Forest of Enchantments proves once again why Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni remains an unparalleled storyteller," the publisher added. -IANS