The Hindu : New Delhi News : ‘Nectar in a Sieve’ in collector’s edition

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Friday, Jan 04, 2008
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New Delhi

‘Nectar in a Sieve’ in collector’s edition

Kamala Markandaya’s landmark novel ‘Nectar in a Sieve’ is now being released in a collector’s edition by Penguin Books India.

A defining work of fiction that has sold over two million copies worldwide, ‘Nectar in a Sieve’ is set in a village in Southern India shortly after India gained independence. The story is narrated through the lives of the characters -- Ru kmani, Nathan and their children -- and the hopes and aspirations of a young nation on the path of development. The novel is about a strong female character, Rukmani, who loses her sons and watches her daughter take to prostitution. Few novels have celebrated the spirit of humanity, its sheer resilience, with greater success.

Originally published in 1954 to instant acclaim, the novel became an international bestseller and was translated into 17 languages. The aim of the special collector’s edition is to introduce a new generation of readers to the vagaries of the book.

Born in Mysore in 1924, Kamala Markandaya studied history at Madras University and later worked for a progressive magazine before moving to London in 1948 to pursue a career in journalism. ‘Nectar in a Sieve’ is one of the ten novels that were published in her lifetime.

Kunal Diwan

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