‘Highly entertaining’ Guardian
‘Enthralling’ Daily Mail
‘Gives a more truthful picture of twenty-first-century India than anything in the earnest pages of the Wall Street Journal … a terrific read’ Independent
Irreverent, farcical and as enlightening as it is entertaining, The Peacock Throne is a novel of breathtaking scope and reach, which looks deep into the heart of human nature and into the soul of modern India.
October 31 1984 begins like any other day for Gopal Pandey as he sets up his tea stall in a lane off Chandni Chowk, the most magnificent and crowded street in all Delhi. At its head lies Red Fort, once the home of the gem-encrusted Peacock Throne, symbol of the Mughal Empires dazzling might and of its downfall.
By the end of the day, Indira Gandhi has been assassinated, violent riots have erupted and Gopal is the bemused possessor of a large sum of money. Fourteen turbulent years and four dramatic turning points in Indian history later, this myopic, bumbling man stands on the verge of immense political power.
Gopal’s unlikely journey is a tale of accidents, scheming, murder and tragedy, religious and political rivalries, corruption and hubris.
‘One of the best novels I have read’ Tabish Khair
‘Saraf … brings the sights, sounds and smells of Delhi right off the page … a fascinating read’ Daily Express
‘Wonderful … Bleak and shocking as well as entertaining and comical … a remarkable feat’ Sunday Express
‘The ambitious scope of his epic is remarkable’ The Observer
‘Enthralling’ Daily Mail
‘Gives a more truthful picture of twenty-first-century India than anything in the earnest pages of the Wall Street Journal … a terrific read’ Independent
Irreverent, farcical and as enlightening as it is entertaining, The Peacock Throne is a novel of breathtaking scope and reach, which looks deep into the heart of human nature and into the soul of modern India.
October 31 1984 begins like any other day for Gopal Pandey as he sets up his tea stall in a lane off Chandni Chowk, the most magnificent and crowded street in all Delhi. At its head lies Red Fort, once the home of the gem-encrusted Peacock Throne, symbol of the Mughal Empires dazzling might and of its downfall.
By the end of the day, Indira Gandhi has been assassinated, violent riots have erupted and Gopal is the bemused possessor of a large sum of money. Fourteen turbulent years and four dramatic turning points in Indian history later, this myopic, bumbling man stands on the verge of immense political power.
Gopal’s unlikely journey is a tale of accidents, scheming, murder and tragedy, religious and political rivalries, corruption and hubris.
‘One of the best novels I have read’ Tabish Khair
‘Saraf … brings the sights, sounds and smells of Delhi right off the page … a fascinating read’ Daily Express
‘Wonderful … Bleak and shocking as well as entertaining and comical … a remarkable feat’ Sunday Express
‘The ambitious scope of his epic is remarkable’ The Observer