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Elephant Driver: A Tale of Adventure and Romance in Ancient India
Jimuta, a poor farm boy in a remote part of ancient India’s great Mauryan Empire, finds and returns the huge war elephant Rudra belonging to his local prince. Most unusually, he is invited to become Rudra’s new driver. The elephant and boy form a close bond.
They are sent on a long journey with Rudra as a gift for the legendary emperor Ashoka. Jimuta realizes he is being used by powerful men for mysterious purposes when, strangely, he is befriended by the wealthy merchant leading the caravan. At the same time his life is threatened by the brutal warrior The Mugger (“The Crocodile”), who orders him to report on his talks with the trader.
At the imperial capital, Jimuta is thrilled to be recruited by emperor Ashoka as a spy. But he finds he is unwittingly a key part of a plot to assassinate his new ruler.
Jimuta falls in love with the beautiful and talented young secret agent Renuka. He is tested to the utmost when she is taken hostage by The Mugger and the other plotters who will almost certainly kill her.
With the help of his giant elephant companion Rudra, Jimuta finds he is capable of a serious attempt to rescue Renuka. And he and Rudra rush to Ashoka’s aid when the emperor is surrounded by the enemy in battle
They are sent on a long journey with Rudra as a gift for the legendary emperor Ashoka. Jimuta realizes he is being used by powerful men for mysterious purposes when, strangely, he is befriended by the wealthy merchant leading the caravan. At the same time his life is threatened by the brutal warrior The Mugger (“The Crocodile”), who orders him to report on his talks with the trader.
At the imperial capital, Jimuta is thrilled to be recruited by emperor Ashoka as a spy. But he finds he is unwittingly a key part of a plot to assassinate his new ruler.
Jimuta falls in love with the beautiful and talented young secret agent Renuka. He is tested to the utmost when she is taken hostage by The Mugger and the other plotters who will almost certainly kill her.
With the help of his giant elephant companion Rudra, Jimuta finds he is capable of a serious attempt to rescue Renuka. And he and Rudra rush to Ashoka’s aid when the emperor is surrounded by the enemy in battle
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First published July 21, 2012
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About the author
Gary Worthington
8 books5 followersI've long been an enthusiastic reader of historical novels, as well as other fiction. I enjoy discussing books with other readers and hearing about new ones to read.
My own epic historical novels are unique in depicting major events and figures in India’s history, religions, and culture, from ancient times through the 20th century. My books include:
India Treasures (also published in South Asia by Penguin India as The Mangarh Chronicles);
The sequel, India Fortunes; and
Elephant Driver, a young adult tale of adventure and romance in ancient India (E-book only)
I've traveled widely on the Indian subcontinent and in many other countries of Asia, as well as in Europe and South America. My articles have appeared in Traveler’s India magazine, on the Writing Historical Novels web site, and elsewhere. I was an invited panelist at the South Asia Literary Festival in Washington, D.C.
In my legal career, I've been a lawyer in private practice, for the Washington State House of Representatives, as an officer in the U.S. Navy, and more recently helping develop the unique Cama Beach State Park on a historic waterfront resort site formerly operated by my wife Sandra’s family on Camano Island, Washington.
My wide range of interests include personal spiritual growth, graphic arts, the night sky and the larger universe; and issues such as international economic justice, environmental preservation, and nuclear disarmament. I designed the home we live in, on a forested site near Olympia, Washington.
We're currently involved in planning and developing a nature preserve on a forested site by our home.
We also help fund primary schools and a hospital in India's Thar desert.
My own epic historical novels are unique in depicting major events and figures in India’s history, religions, and culture, from ancient times through the 20th century. My books include:
India Treasures (also published in South Asia by Penguin India as The Mangarh Chronicles);
The sequel, India Fortunes; and
Elephant Driver, a young adult tale of adventure and romance in ancient India (E-book only)
I've traveled widely on the Indian subcontinent and in many other countries of Asia, as well as in Europe and South America. My articles have appeared in Traveler’s India magazine, on the Writing Historical Novels web site, and elsewhere. I was an invited panelist at the South Asia Literary Festival in Washington, D.C.
In my legal career, I've been a lawyer in private practice, for the Washington State House of Representatives, as an officer in the U.S. Navy, and more recently helping develop the unique Cama Beach State Park on a historic waterfront resort site formerly operated by my wife Sandra’s family on Camano Island, Washington.
My wide range of interests include personal spiritual growth, graphic arts, the night sky and the larger universe; and issues such as international economic justice, environmental preservation, and nuclear disarmament. I designed the home we live in, on a forested site near Olympia, Washington.
We're currently involved in planning and developing a nature preserve on a forested site by our home.
We also help fund primary schools and a hospital in India's Thar desert.
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