Monsoon Summer: A Novel - Softcover

Julia Gregson has worked as a journalist and foreign correspondent in the UK, Australia, and the US. She is the author of East of the Sun, which was a major bestseller in the UK and won the Romantic Novel of the Year Prize and the Le Prince Maurice Prize there, and Monsoon Summer. Her short stories have been published in collections and magazines and read on the radio. She lives in Monmouthshire, Wales.

“Dazzling . . . Gregson, as always, writes with grace and authority in this fresh and affecting tale that successfully blends questions of love, home, colonialism and race with suspense and secrets. Like E.M. Forster's A Passage to India and Paul Scott's Raj Quartet, Monsoon Summer offers a thoughtful storyline, a wealth of well-drawn characters, an enlightening view of history and intelligent entertainment, as Gregson again displays excellence on every page of her work.” Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Readers looking beyond American and British borders will relish the flavors of Gregson’s post-war India as they enjoy the story of a young woman coming to grips with a new marriage, a new life and a new land. [Gregson] completely understands the beauty and harshness of India, its land, culture and history. She fearlessly takes on the prejudices that existed during this era to paint an accurate portrait: an intimate glimpse into the British and Indian psyche.” Source: RT Reviews

“Engaging . . . [an] overall allure of escapism, a plethora of agreeable characters, and a satisfying, all’s-well-that-ends-well conclusion.” Source: The Roanoke Times

“Julia Gregson's newest novel continues the success of her previous novel, East of the Sun, which was published in 26 countries, optioned by the BBC and won the Romantic Novel of the Year Prize as well as the Le Prince Maurice Prize.” Author: The Oklahoman

“Historical fiction fans will be fascinated by this multilayered story about a brave but naïve young woman and a country in the midst of political and cultural change.” Source: Library Journal Online

“Gregson’s descriptions are evocative of the sounds, sights and smells of India. If you’ve ever wondered about life in India after independence, this is a great insight into that world.” Source: The British Weekly

"A pair of star-crossed lovers navigate the postwar world." Source: New York Post

Praise for Jasmine Nights:

“Julia Gregson's Jasmine Nights has all the makings of the perfect beach read: adventure, danger, international locale, historical sweep, steamy romance...utterly delicious.” Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer

“Gregson, the author of East of the Sun and Band of Angels, brings a wealth of detail to this unconventional love story, ranging from World War II history to rich cultural lore to the pop-music standards of the era. With numerous and well-drawn characters, evocative prose and a commanding story, the former journalist and foreign correspondent again proves that she is also a master of historical fiction. And smoke might not be the only thing that gets in your eyes in this moving novel.” Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch

“Gregson shines in her descriptions of the life of the rich, poor and combatant in Cairo and Alexandria, the sights of Giza and the Bosphorus, and the chaotic World War II milieu where women no longer tolerated 'boys making all the rules.' Saba and Dom love, face perils, triumph and intermittently reunite. The story flows at a stately pace to a conclusion both satisfying and open-ended. Fans will want a sequel.” Source: Kirkus Reviews