The first major novel in English to emerge from Nepal, this is a portrait of a society in change that is ultimately a story of idealism, alienation and love. Writte with rare insight into the politics of a nation and of human relationships, this novel marks the arrival of a significant new voice from the Subcontinent.
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Editorial Reviews
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"An evocative glimpse into the truth and turbulence of today's Nepal." -- Annes Jung, author of Unveiling India
"The Tutor of History is a charming, sizeable novel giving detailed insights into the lives of common Nepalese townsfolk." -- Khushwant Singh, Hindustan Times
"The Tutor of History is a charming, sizeable novel giving detailed insights into the lives of common Nepalese townsfolk." -- Khushwant Singh, Hindustan Times
About the Author
Manjushree Thapa is a writer based in Kathmandu.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Thoughtful and engaging, well worth reading.,
This review is from: Tutor of History (Paperback)
Ms. Thapa's novel follows the lives of a variety of characters in the lead-up to local and national elections in a small town in central Nepal. She drwas the reader in by illuminating the interior dramas of many characters, each of whom is engaged in conflict with various societal issues, whether they be gender based, substance abuse, personal philosophy, economic or other. Having spent a good amount of time in Nepa, I was able to recognize the town, the peoples, the physical lay-out, and other atmospheric elements that Ms. Thapa beautifully evokes. Om, the Gurung landowner, Binita, a young widower, various Bahuns trying to uphold what they see as their endangered status, and many others are recognizable individuals that illustrate the complex ethnic and cultural mix of this Himalayan country. She has a special knack for evoking the hard life that many women endure in village life: limited opportunities, limited dreams, and often long, drawn out sad endings.
The build up to the election is very well orchestrated, with suitable tension among the different factions battling it out. Her language is not overly ornate, but rather suitably simple in that it accurately reflects her characters. When needed, when warranted, her writing reveals deep and compicated thought on her characters parts. And she is equally adept at bringing in the ever changing environment - the changing rythms of agriculture, of nature, the hot and dusty towns, the constant traffic on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway, the day and the night. Well worth reading, as is her other book "Forget Kathmandu: an Elegy for Democracy." If you want to understand contemporary Nepal, then you should start with Ms. Thapa's works.
2 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
An English Novel by a Nepali Author,
By
This review is from: Tutor of History (Paperback)
Read this book basically because it was an English book written by a Nepali. Being a Nepali myself, and reading mostly English books, I was keen to read this. Unfortuantely, have in recent years been very selective and have read many good books in the past few months. For example, BP Koirala's Atmabrittanta, and many presidential memoirs.
The author has researched well for this book. It is interesting to read about a place outside the Kathmandu Valley and what life is like in a small town in Nepal. The book is based upon a few people who undergo changes in their life due to an upcoming National election. However, the story leads nowhere. There is nothing really special about the story, nothing really happens. It is just a description of the lives of a few people in that town during a few months. I was waiting and waiting for something interesting to happen, but nothing does- I waited, and read till the end, for some form of spark, but it does not ignite. There are lots of better books out there, thats well worth your time. Dont waste your time on this one. Unless you want to read a novel in English by a Nepali Author.
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