Love, Queenie

Mayukh Sen's biography of Merle Oberon, the trailblazing actress who was the first to be nominated for an Oscar while passing as white, explores her extraordinary journey from poverty in India to Hollywood stardom. Drawing on family interviews and archival material, the book offers a compassionate look at Oberon's life, highlighting the racial, gender, and power dynamics she navigated during her rise to fame. It also delves into the personal and societal challenges faced by Oberon amid Hollywood’s racially exclusionary era and prevailing immigration policies.