title: A Marriage Made in Heaven : A Love Story in Letters
author:  Vatsala Sperling 
description: What could a 35-year-old single Indian woman from a Hindu Brahmin family have in common with a 40-year-old divorced American Jewish man? A good deal, judging from this collection of very romantic and idealistic courtship letters written between two such individuals before their elaborate Indian wedding ceremony in 1996. Yearning for a domestic environment in which he would clearly be the head of a family, Ehud, owner and publisher of the Inner Traditions book company in rural Vermont, placed an ad for a wife in an Indian newspaper. One of the responses to his inquiry was from Vatsala, a clinical microbiologist who desired to trade in her independence for what she believed would be a more fulfilling life as a married woman. The letters the two exchanged show that they viewed male and female roles in marriage as distinct and complementary, with the male taking the leadership role in decision making and responsibility for earning the couple's living and the female deferring to her husband's wishes, finding contentment as a full-time housekeeper. Ehud, who was familiar with and had an obvious affinity for Indian culture, did not expect his future wife to give up her religion and, in fact, pointed out many similarities between Hinduism and Judaism. Those who long for the traditional family of yesteryear will enjoy the Sperlings' multicultural love story; feminists (of both sexes) willl want to steer steer clear. (Feb.) </P><P>Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information, Inc.</P>
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and
  incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a
  fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or
  actual events is purely coincidental.
  
  INKLING PUBLISHING, LLC
  
  Hampden, ME 04444
  
  inklingpublishing@gmail.com
  
  www.inklingpublishinghouse.com
  
  Copyright © 2017 by Melanie Thurlow
  
  ISBN-13: 978-0-9993190-0-0
  
  ISBN-10: 0-9993190-0-0
  
  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
  distributed, of transmitted in any form or by any means without written
  permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical
  reviews as permitted by copyright law.
  
  Cover design by FionaJaydeMedia.com
  
  Interior design by Inkling Publishing, LLC
  
  For Annabella
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  > Chapter 1
  
  April 1816
  
  The marriage had been arranged since her infancy.
  
  Well, arranged wasn’t quite the word. Marriages were hardly ever arran