First published 2009
A burned-out London journalist named Jeff attends the Venice Biennale, surrendering to a feverish sexual encounter with a mysterious American woman. Their passionate connection unfolds against a backdrop of art, decadence, and fleeting desire. When the conference ends, Jeff's world fragments, propelling him toward an unexpected pilgrimage to Varanasi, India's holiest city. Here, the sensual chaos of his Venetian interlude gives way to a profound spiritual transformation. Stripped of professional ambition and personal identity, Jeff confronts the raw edges of human existence—where pleasure and mortality intersect in startling, intimate ways.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, 20th-century, contemporary
Vibes: atmospheric, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, spiritual-transformation
Setting: Coal Mine, India, Varanasi, Venice
Period: 20th Century
304 pages · Hardcover · Pantheon