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Lakshmi Shastri has spent years carving out a life for herself as a henna artist after fleeing her abusive husband and backward rural village for the Rajasthan capital. Well-versed in apothecary and the miraculous properties of herbs, her services (the effects of which are far more than just aesthetic) are highly sought after by upper-caste women, and Lakshmi’s success brings her within inches from her, and her country’s, ultimate goal: total independence. That is, until the past she has so desperately tried to run from comes knocking at her door... A NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB PICK "Captivated me from the first chapter to the final page."—Reese Witherspoon Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman's struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel. Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist—and confidante—to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own... Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow—a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does. "Eloquent and moving...Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love."—Publishers Weekly Look for The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris from New York Times bestselling author Alka Joshi! A Reese Witherspoon X Hello Sunshine Book Club Pick “eloquent And Moving...joshi Masterfully Balances A Yearning For Self-discovery With The Need For Familial Love.”—publishers Weekly Vivid And Compelling In Its Portrait Of One Woman’s Struggle For Fulfillment In A Society Pivoting Between The Traditional And The Modern, The Henna Artist Opens A Door Into A World That Is At Once Lush And Fascinating, Stark And Cruel. Escaping From An Abusive Marriage, Seventeen-year-old Lakshmi Makes Her Way Alone To The Vibrant 1950s Pink City Of Jaipur. There She Becomes The Most Highly Requested Henna Artist—and Confidante—to The Wealthy Women Of The Upper Class. But Trusted With The Secrets Of The Wealthy, She Can Never Reveal Her Own... Known For Her Original Designs And Sage Advice, Lakshmi Must Tread Carefully To Avoid The Jealous Gossips Who Could Ruin Her Reputation And Her Livelihood. As She Pursues Her Dream Of An Independent Life, She Is Startled One Day When She Is Confronted By Her Husband, Who Has Tracked Her Down These Many Years Later With A High-spirited Young Girl In Tow—a Sister Lakshmi Never Knew She Had. Suddenly The Caution That She Has Carefully Cultivated As Protection Is Threatened. Still She Perseveres, Applying Her Talents And Lifting Up Those That Surround Her As She Does. Vivid and compelling in its portrait of one woman's struggle for fulfillment in a society pivoting between the traditional and the modern, The Henna Artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel. Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist'and confidante'to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own' Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow'a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does. "Eloquent and moving'Joshi masterfully balances a yearning for self-discovery with the need for familial love." 'Publishers Weekly "Escaping from an abusive marriage, seventeen-year-old Lakshmi makes her way alone to the vibrant 1950s pink city of Jaipur. There she becomes the most highly requested henna artist--and confidante--to the wealthy women of the upper class. But trusted with the secrets of the wealthy, she can never reveal her own. Known for her original designs and sage advice, Lakshmi must tread carefully to avoid the jealous gossips who could ruin her reputation and her livelihood. As she pursues her dream of an independent life, she is startled one day when she is confronted by her husband, who has tracked her down these many years later with a high-spirited young girl in tow--a sister Lakshmi never knew she had. Suddenly the caution that she has carefully cultivated as protection is threatened. Still she perseveres, applying her talents and lifting up those that surround her as she does."-- Publisher's description A talented henna artist for wealthy confidantes finds her efforts to control her own destiny in 1950s Jaipur threatened by the abusive husband she fled as a teenage girl