Magical tantalizing and sensual "The Mistress of Spices is the story of Tilo a young woman
born in another time in a faraway place who is trained in the ancient art of spices and
ordained as a mistress charged with special powers. Once fully initiated in a rite of fire the
now immortal Tilo--in the gnarled and arthritic body of an old woman--travels through time to
Oakland California where she opens a shop from which she administers spices as curatives to
her customers. An unexpected romance with a handsome stranger eventually forces her to choose
between the supernatural life of an immortal and the vicissitudes of modern life. Spellbinding
and hypnotizing "The Mistress of Spices is a tale of joy and sorrow and one special woman's
magical powers. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni born in India is an award-winning poet who
teaches creative writing at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills California where she also
serves as president of MAITRI a helpline for South Asian women. In 1995 her short story
collection "Arranged Marriage was awarded the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Prize for Fiction
the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award for Fiction and an American Book Award from the Before
Columbus Foundation. Her fourth poetry collection "Leaving Yuba City was published by Anchor
in August 1997.
