But when her beloved father dies, she and her mother find themselves alone and without a dowry. In 17th-century Iran, a 14-year-old woman believes she will be married within the year. Her latest book in the Jaipur trilogy, The Perfumist of Paris, was released in March, 2023.Īnita and Alka discuss their books, their history as mentor and student, their family histories in their homelands of Iran and India, and the importance of exemplary storytelling.Ī sensuous and richly-imagined historical novel that centers on a skilled young carpet weaver, her arranged marriage, and her quest for self-determination in 17th-century Persia. Joshi's debut novel, The Henna Artist, immediately became a NYT bestseller, a Reese Witherspoon Bookclub pick, was Longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, & is in development as a TV series. since she was nine, Alka Joshi has a BA from Stanford University and an MFA from California College of Arts. She teaches in the writing programs at the California College of the Arts.īorn in India and raised in the U.S. Her second novel, Equal of the Sun, was published by Scribner and has appeared in ten languages. On this episode, we're excited to bring you Anita Amirrezvani in conversation with Alka Joshi.Īnita Amirrezvani’s first novel, The Blood of Flowers, has appeared in 34 languages and was long-listed for the 2008 Orange Prize for Fiction (now the Women’s Prize).

Equal of the Sun by Anita Amirrezvani