Amitav Ghosh 
Glass Palace 

The Glass Palace begins with the shattering of the kingdom of Burma, and tells the story of a people, a fortune, and a family and its fate. It traces the life of Rajkumar, a poor Indian boy, who is lifted on the tides of political and social turmoil to build an empire in the Burmese teak forest. When British soldiers force the royal family out of the glass palace, during the invasion of 1885, he falls in love with Dolly, an attendant at the palace. Years later, unable to forget her, Rajkumar goes in search of his love. Through this brilliant and impassioned story of love and war, Amitav Ghosh presents a ruthless appraisal of the horrors of colonialism and capitalist exploitation.