“Leaving Everything Most Loved” - Jacqueline Winspear

 (Maisie Dobbs book 10)

🧳 I love that Winspear chose to include characters from the Indian subcontinent in this one! By the time of WWI, the East India Co. had a presence for several 100 years in India and the cross-cultural exchange between the regions was flowing resulting in many Indians living on British soil as well fighting on behalf of the British empire. Additionally, the number of Anglo-Indians was not insignificant in both regions.

🧳 Winspear addresses the extreme vulnerability of ayahs abandoned once the voyage from India was completed or shortly thereafter. They were often penniless, with no connections, with a language barrier, and faced racism. Even purported charities (i.e. ayah’s homes) could and often did, easily exploit these women with impunity.

🧳 Maisie fled to India to escape her loss and sorrow; here she encounters a woman who might have been doing the same. Leaving her home, to find what? I think she felt a sort of kinship with the victim and was drawn to this case.

🧳 We also take a look at the darker side of missionary groups. They could accomplish a great deal of good, and doubtless most felt their goals were noble, there was an undeniable racist underpinning to “convert the heathens”.

🧳Note: the “Pramal” surname threw me for a loop. Perhaps it’s an anglicized or incorrectly transliterated version of Parmar? In any case there are hints at an arranged marriage between Usha Pramal and a man with the Singh surname (Punjabi, likely a Sikh). Just a note for authenticity, I’d venture it would be highly improbable that families would seek such an alliance across linguistic and religious difference - to say nothing of caste during this time period.