Delhi: A Novel [Paperback]

Khushwant Singh (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1991

historical novel set in Delhi, c. 17-20th Centuries

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This sprawling, erotic, exotic novel spiked with Rabelaisian humor is set in both modern and ancient Delhi. The narrator is a journalist and sometimes tour guide/lover to rich foreign women who visit his native city, such as Lady Hoity-Toity, the noted archaeologistp. 13 . From his numerous short-lived sexual affairs, about which he boasts to friends, to his ongoing relationship with a hijda (half-man half-woman) prostitute named Baghmati, to fairy-tale-like stories within the story about Delhi's history dating back to the 1300's, a unique vision of Delhi emerges--one that is filled with both affection and revulsion, a city of temples and bazaars, of muddy waters, filth and poverty. Comparing his love for Delhi with his love for Baghmati, he sets out to ``explain the strange paradox of his lifelong, love-hate affair with the city and the woman,'' warning that it may read like ``A Fucking Man's Guide to Delhi: Past and Present.'' As much fun as the novel is, however, especially at the outset, it goes on too long without much plot to drive it. Singh is a veteran Indian journalist and author of Train to Pakistan .

Copyright 1991 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 391 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics) (April 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140126198
• ISBN-13: 978-0140126198
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #523,278 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Khushwant Singh's libidinal history of Delhi, October 4, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Delhi

Khushwant Singh is the Master of Bawd ! This novel is the product of twenty-five years of his libidinal excursions into literature. As he says in the foreword, he has injected liberally, in this interpretation of the history of Delhi, the stores of his seminal fluid. Only a master of the language like Khushwant Singh can write such an erudite thesis on the expulsion of wind from the nether orifices - the chapter on farts is a masterpiece. The weaving of the past and the present with a characteristic Khushwant-style bawdy humor, can be appreciated truly only by the denizens of Delhi, who have grown up reading his novels, articles and jokes. But I highly recommend reading this masterpiece from the author of The Train to Pakistan. Only true Khushwant Singh fans can appreciate the untying of the Pyjama Cord of History that he has attempted in this novel (like his heroes who invariably open the heroine's pyjama cords).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dehli - The story of the city, April 20, 2004

By 

Jasleen Matharu - See all my reviews

This review is from: Delhi

Khushwant Singh - one writer who can shock a reader out of their senses without alienating them. His writing style has be tagged everything on the spectrum - from brilliant to scandalous. Whatever may be the case, he is one of the most important English language writers of this century. He has tackled ever subject from religion to politics. His capabilities are unlimited from fiction to non-fiction.

Enough said about the writer. I picked this book due to its title. Being a Delhi born myself, I was more then curious to find more about one of the most fascinating world destinations. This book is a delicate balance of fiction and non-fiction. It chronicles the history of New Delhi from the eyes of an old Sikh guide - Mr. Singh. His passionate romance with Bhagmati - a hermaphrodite and a representation of Delhi is beautifully paralleled. It progresses with chapters divided in narrations by poets, sultans, soldiers, white memsahibs. Laden with every possible creative/literary technique, this book is a must read for those interested in world fiction, socio-cultural studies, world history... and more.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting and disturbing narration of the History of Delhi, December 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Delhi

The book starts early in this millenium, and with each alternate chapter proceeds through the centuries until the present time, alternating with chapters based in the present. The chapters dealing with the past are fanstastic especially if you know the city of Delhi and have curiosity about its history. The story is told from the viewpoints of various characters, with different styles, and is really a marvelous read.

unfortunatley the parts dealing with the present (or within the last 50 years) are rather lame. Only the first and the last chapters that tell of the present are must reads. The rest are quite forgettable and quite disturbing to the sensibilities of many.

But despite this, the book has to be read by anybody who is interested in how India took its present shape over the centuries. If you don't care about the History of India, skip it.