Ashoka the Great

Ashoka the Great is a historical novel that tells the story of the rise, crisis, and transformation of one of the most enigmatic and revolutionary rulers of antiquity.

Ashoka, the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, seizes power with determination and ferocity. The peak of his reign coincides with the bloody Battle of Kalinga: a massacre that marks a point of no return in his conscience. Instead of celebrating the victory, Ashoka is overwhelmed by remorse and horror at the destruction caused by his ambition.

From that moment begins his metamorphosis: the warrior emperor becomes the "just king," embracing the teachings of Buddhism and choosing to rule not through the force of arms, but with Dharma, the law of compassion, tolerance, and justice.

The novel follows the stages of this inner and political evolution: the difficulty of reconciling power with new ideals, the conflicts with the court and the army, the dialogue with monks and advisors, up to the dissemination of the famous Edicts that still today testify to the concrete utopia of a ruler who renounced violence to govern through morality.

With a plot that alternates epic and reflective moments, Ashoka the Great is not only a historical fresco but also an invitation to contemporary readers to reflect on power, responsibility, and the possibility of a radical change founded on inner ethics.