Publisher's Synopsis
Ammu, a university professor, killed a Catholic priest, in a church, for raping her, hitting him with a steel crucifix. The right arm of the cross went deep into the priest's brain, killing him instantly. Moreover, Ammu never tried to defend herself in a court of law. On release from prison, she witnessed celebrations in the local church, where many thousand gathered to observe the events leading to the canonisation of the priest as a saint by the Pope in the Vatican. The story is distinctive and deals with a unique theme and plot, entirely original. A woman's active search for justice, equality and freedom makes the novel compelling, and fresh. Eloquently told with magnetic intensity, The Virgin's Crown stirs the reader's emotions and reasons. The main characters, Emilia Schmidt, Stefan Meyer, Ammu Thomas, Ravi Stefan Meyer, Jennifer Bernard, Aditya Appukkuttan, Amelia Martin, Jacob Bernard, Narayanan Bhat, Father Epen, and Bishop George and Sr. Ann Maria are caught in a web of social responsibility, political power struggle, religious corruption, Nationalism, Communism, Fascism, and the sublime experience of love. The story represents diverse characters and authentic voices, and the reader can feel a deep emotional resonance throughout. The captivating layers of the plot and the enchanting narratives can make you hold your breath, make your heart soar, and entice you genuinely to experience the mysteries of life. Ammu completed her research on crayfish in the lake Erken and the lake Vattern in Sweden and lobsters in Kuttanad in Kerala. During her study at Uppsala University, she developed a new hybrid that she called Kuttern, which helped the lobster farmers in Kuttanad to become economically independent. Ravi, a human rights lawyer, fought many cases in the court for the rights of child labourers and the oppressed. Ammu helped him in his mission. Their goal was to liberate the maximum number of children from bondage and subjugation. In the course of their struggle, they created a powerful enemy, Narayanan Bhat, the would-be the prime minister of the country.Ravi's parents, Emilia and Stefan Mayer were from Germany. When in Frankfurt, Emilia came to know about Theyyam, a dance drama of Malabar. Meanwhile, Emilia met Stephan Meyer at Berlin University, who was a communist from Stuttgart, researching Peasant Movement in Malabar. Both of them had a fernweh, a longing to travel to distant lands, homesickness to explore Malabar, and they married and settled in Kannur. On a rainy night, under the railway overbridge at Kannur, Emilia and Stefan Meyer found a newborn baby, wrapped in tattered clothes. They adopted the baby and called him Ravi. While returning from Sweden, after completing her doctorate at Copenhagen airport, Ammu met Ravi, and they fell in love with each other. Ammu and Ravi developed profound love and trust, and after their marriage, Ammu helped Ravi to fight against human rights violations. On release from the prison, Ammu searched for her husband's grave in a cemetery for the abandoned. When finding his burial place, she experienced peace and tranquillity, the fulfilment of justice and human rights, thus converting and existential tragedy into a noble personal truth. However, Ammu met a young man in the cemetery, who she never expected to meet. Here is a compelling story for the millennials, young people, and women all over the world. The intensity of romance, personal trust, and questions on the purpose of life permeates each page of the book. The Catholic priest and the Bishop are the representatives of a decaying religious culture. Narayanan Bhat, the antagonist and his Ultra Nationalist Party, are the terrifying realities the citizens encounter in their day to day life even in a democratically elected government. Ultimately the Novel raises questions on human rights, justice, values, culture, the place of religion and political parties in a democratic society and personal life of individuals.