It is no secret that Kolkata is a celebrated superstar within the Indian literary scene. The city was home to some of the most prolific of modern Indian writers, including the legendary Rabindranath Tagore, and to many of the most important of Indian cultural movements – particularly the Bengal Renaissance. But that’s not it; the city has also served as a vital, dynamic character in several celebrated pieces of literature. Here we round up a list of 4 English language novels featuring Kolkata that you can read straight away!
Set in 1967 Kolkata, this Man Booker Prize shortlisted novel tells the story of the Ghosh family, composed of an ageing patriarch and matriarch, their five children and grandchildren who all live under the same roof. The Lives of Others (2015) follows the various rivalries and crises that engulf the family, while simultaneously following the parallel story of extremist political activism and unrest that erupts in Indian society as well as the family itself. The second novel of Kolkata-born author Neel Mukherjee, this critically acclaimed saga is an engrossing and epic read.