If there's a common theme that runs through the novels of Upamanyu Chatterjee, it is his enduring, some would say endearing, interest in the lives of social misfits. Starting with the unforgettable Agastya Sen of English, August (1988), his debut novel, each of Chatterjee's protagonists, all men, is a study in eccentricity, twisted appetites, and an insatiable capacity for Rabelaisian humour.
Between Jamun in The Last Burden (2000) and Way To Go (2010), Bhola in Weight Loss (2006), Nirip in Fairy Tales At Fifty (2015), and Parmatma in Villainy (2022), Chatterjee has covered the whole gamut of human experience, all the seven deadly sins and every unspeakable horror that lies beyond. For his heroes (or anti-heroes, if you prefer), no fantasy is beyond the pale, every weakness of the flesh is to be indulged in, and the rulebook of morality exists only to be violated, in word and deed.
It is for this reason that Chatterjee's new novel, Lorenzo Searches For The Meaning Of Life, comes to readers, especially his long-term admirers, as a bit of shock. Based on the true story of Fabrizio Senesi, who, Chatterjee claims, is "a good friend" of his, it is his most sober book by far. Instead of Chatterjee's trademark acerbic wit, we encounter a gentle soul in the omniscient narrator, who speaks in a prissily measured tone. Is it softness that's been wrought by time (Chatterjee turns 65 this year), or a masterly Houdini act by one of the most original voices of his generation? Either way, Lorenzo is a delight to read, especially the first half, which is set in Trieste, Italy. As the story begins, the eponymous protagonist is a youth of 21, earnest and serious, but scarred by the wounds of a road accident that has left him with a steel plate in one of his limbs. As with any nearfatal trauma, Lorenzo is led to reflect on the Big Questions of existence as he lies recuperating.
この記事は Mint Mumbai の February 17, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Mint Mumbai の February 17, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
India's economic performance is pretty robust on most counts
The economy's back on its high-growth path and fiscal consolidation is on track but our labour market remains a concern
We should be more receptive to paradigm-shifting ideas
Do we really have free will? Our brains are not wired to accept radical thoughts easily but we must try
We need to invest in nature for the sake of humanity's future
Money must flow into what saves rather than harms biodiversity
Is gold worth its weight amid our demat assets?
It has been a buzzy buy in recent times, with its price soaring over the past year. Investors, however, are likely to be better served by going for intangible forms of this precious metal
The country needs to map its informal economy better
We need more accurate data on enterprises that play a major role in employing people
Some states have started to slip off their fiscal correction paths
Populist outlays and capital expenditure have widened their budget deficits. They must tighten up
How a businessman in his 50s went gung-ho on MFs
From telecom retail to mutual fund: SIPs have bridged Singh's post-covid business slowdown
Principal disabled? Know your PoA rights
My father has been in coma following an accident. He had granted me a power of attorney (PoA) to manage his money, but the PoA has no specified duration. Is it legally valid for me to withdraw funds or conduct other transactions on his behalf for his medical treatment? -Name withheld on request
HOW SALMA HAYEK IS REDEFIMNG PHILANTHROPY
In the worlds of Hollywood, fashion and activism, there's never been anyone quite like Salma.
WORLD SAVINGS DAY: A REALITY CHECK ON INDIA'S DWINDLING HOUSEHOLD SAVINGS CRISIS
High inflation and easy credit lead to financial instability due to overspending and rising debt