An India in transition is the setting for this tale of two cultures at odds. By virtue of recent political events, Maharana Prince Jagat finds himself stripped of his wealth and royal titles; yet his sense of responsibility to his people remains intact. His wife, Moti, a passive and accepting woman of tradition, is a dispassionate partner, willing to resign herself to a life devoid of emotion. When news reaches the couple that their only son, Jai, has been killed by the Chinese in a border skirmish, an inconsolable Moti sends Jagat out to bring the boy's spirit home. On the journey, the prince becomes involved with a beautiful and mysterious young American woman. , Brooke Westley. Thus begins the fatal attraction between Eastern and Western ways, one bound by rigid custom, the other temptingly ripe with freethinking. The late was a talented and prolific author (53 books). Her simple yet evocative language, well-developed characters, and timeless plot make Mandala a fascinating addition to the fiction shelf.