For fans of The Tea-Planter’s Wife and Victoria Hislop comes a gripping story of doomed love and secrets in 1940s Kashmir.

The beloved, bestselling author delivers “an epic tale . . . A complicated entanglement of family secrets, love during wartime and dangerous liaisons” (Red Magazine). “Sorting through her parents’ possessions after their deaths, Mair Ellis discovers a Kashmir shawl that once belonged to her Welsh grandmother, Nerys Watkins. Nestled within the folds of this exquisite handwoven piece is an envelope containing a single lock of hair. Curiosity drives Mair to trace the history of the shawl, a quest that takes her from Wales to India. As she pieces together her grandmother’s past, the two women’s stories intertwine, transporting the reader between the Kashmir of WWII and the present day. The bulk of the novel belongs to Nerys, a missionary’s wife whose undemonstrative husband urges her to spend the winter in Srinigar with a friend while he spreads Christianity in remote settlements. Nerys is forever changed in this romantic city, blossoming in an illicit affair while being swept up in the dangerous unraveling of another’s. The consequences resurface nearly seven decades later, leaving Mair with a life-altering decision. An avid traveler and thorough researcher, Thomas brings the flavors and colors of India to life with vivid detail and develops characters so real one feels a kinship. An engrossing, intelligent, and satisfying read.” —Booklist (starred review) “Mystery, intrigue, a great love, passion, and a terrible sorrow all come together to make The Kashmir Shawl a very touching and satisfying read.” —Barbara Taylor Bradford “A spellbinding tale . . . Beautifully written, honest and compassionate.” —Daily Express “A superbly written novel, marvelously descriptive and especially evocative of the war years . . . A gorgeous treat.” —Choice

- Lavishly illustrated, the book offers a comprehensive view of pashmina, one of the most exqusite textiles ever woven - Constructs a complete narrative of the textile, from the raw material to the finished product - Covers the history for the pashmina industry from the nomadic tribes to the fashion industry The classic Kashmir shawl is among the most exquisite textiles ever woven, the product of consummate skill and artistry applied to one of the world's most delicate fibers. This authoritative study introduces the Kashmir shawl as a cultural artifact with a known history spanning four centuries. Lavishly illustrated and accessibly written, the revised edition of this book has much to offer textile scholars, and those interested in the history of Kashmir. Contents: Preface and Acknowledgements; Maps; Introduction: A Felicitous Conjunction. PART I: THE FIBRE - Chapter 1: Pashm and Other Animal Fibres; Chapter 2: Changra and Changpa: The Goats and Their Herders - Monisha Ahmed; Chapter 3: From Changthang to Srinagar: The Pashm Trade. PART 2: THE TEXTILE - Chapter 4: Spinners, Weavers, and Needleworkers; Chapter 5: Design and Designers. PART 3: THE HISTORY - Chapter 6: Early History: Conjecture and Speculation; Chapter 7: The Mughal Period; Chapter 8: The Iran Connection: The Termeh; Chapter 9: The Business in the 19th Century. PART 4: BY LAND AND SEA - Chapter 10: The Kashmir Shawl in India; Chapter 11: The Kashmir Shawl in Iran, West Asia, and Russia; Chapter 12: Shawls in the West. PART 5: CASHMERE AND KASHMIR - Chapter 13: Beyond the Shawl: Pashmina Becomes Cashmere; Chapter 14: Meanwhile, Back in the Valley. Appendix I Update 2008-17; Appendix II Myths, Misconceptions, and Oddities; Appendix III Terminology and Glossary; Notes and References; Bibliography; Picture Credits; Index.

Kashmir Is Known For Its Arts And Crafts. But There Is No Single Book So Far Which Deals Overall And Totally With Both Known And Lesser Known Crafts Of Jammu & Kashmir State. This Book Portrays A Comprehensive Study Providing Wealth Of Information And Visual Documentation On The Beautiful Part Of India Comprising Jammu, Kashmir Valley And Ladakh. A State With Rich Craft And Cultural Heritage Deserves To Be Better Known In Its Crafts Context Of People And Culture. As A Close And Living Relationship Ties Land To People And People To Craft And Culture, The Book Opens With Brief Description Of This Relationship. Since Traditional Skills Co-Exist And Change In The Course Of Changing Conditions, The Book Covers Some Of The More Important As Well As Lesser Known Crafts In Their Historical Background, Present And Potential For Future. Development Being A Constant Process, The Book Also Reviews The Actual Craft Situation,, Its Scope, Design, Craft Training, The Domestic Marketing And Exports Of Crafts, Concluding On The Most Important Factor-The Craftsmen And Their Welfare. The Book Is Invaluable In Many Way. Over 100 Pages Of Excellent Photographs And Typical Design Motifs. General Readers, Planners And Administrators As Well As Traders And Exporters Will Find Highly Useful The Details The Book Provides With The Personal Touch Of Author S Rich Experience Over The Years.