A Bottle in the Smoke: A Tale of Anglo-Indian Life

A Bottle in the Smoke: A Tale of Anglo-Indian Life, published in 1912 by Janet Milne Rae, follows Hester Rayner, a young Englishwoman adjusting to her new life in Madras, India. The novel delves into the complexities of Anglo-Indian society, exploring themes of identity, prejudice, and cultural intersections as Hester navigates her feelings of belonging and the societal biases of her husband, Alfred. The arrival of her childhood friend Mark Cheveril, who is of mixed heritage, complicates her situation, highlighting the tensions of class and race during the British occupation of India from 1765 to 1947.