First published 1995
As the Indian government declares a state of emergency, four disparate souls - a seamstress, a student, and two tailors fleeing caste violence - are forced to share a cramped flat. Through days of despair and hope, their stories intertwine in unexpected ways, forging an unlikely bond that becomes their lifeline against the brutality of a nation in flux.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary, family-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, unlikely-allies
Setting: Bombay, Dubai, Family Planning Centre, Himalays, India, Mumbai
Period: 1947, 1975, 1984, The Emergency
748 pages · Hardcover · M&S
Content warnings: violence