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Before the Rains is the second book I’ve read by Dinah Jefferies. This author has a very clever way of transporting her reader to the countries and places that she describes through her highly vivid use of imagery. While in some books, lots of description can be off putting, this is never the case in Jefferies’ novels. In fact, for me, it is part of the main essence. The delicious little nuggets of setting description Jefferies distributes throughout Before the Rains give just enough detail to immerse the reader without slowing the pace of the narrative.
As with The Tea Planter’s Wife, Before the Rains features an English heroine getting to grips with the exciting and colourful culture of an exotic country. Eliza, a refreshingly slightly older heroine had been living in India until she was ten when her father died. After that, she and her mother returned to England until, at the age of 29, she returns to India, sent as a photographer to capture images of India under British rule. Satisfyingly, this leads to intrigue, mystery, forbidden romance and the uncovering of long kept secrets. This story is more political than The Tea Planter’s Wife, as it deals with the repercussions that happen when one culture attempts to rule over another without enough understanding and, in some cases, compassion. Sometimes, the way in which Jeffries brings this to our attention is blunt and even brutal. Sometimes, it takes a back seat to the main romance, but it is always there and forms a poignant backdrop to the action taking place.
The main theme that emerged for me from this story was that of life’s trials and the triumph of hope. The plot, characters and setting are haunting and provide food for thought long after the novel has been put down.
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