'Loot' traces the love, war and art that shaped India's colonial history

In her new novel Loot , Tania James writes of a 17-year-old woodworker who's commissioned to build a tiger automaton for the Indian ruler Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. The story is inspired by the real-life Tippoo's Tiger, one of the most famous sculptures in London's Victoria and Albert Museum. James' tale of colonization, war, love and art stretches across India and Europe – and as she tells NPR's Ari Shapiro, it continues to raise questions about historical artifacts and who should own them. Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices NPR Privacy Policy