The Marriage Bureau For Rich People [Paperback]

A writer of charming and breezy prose, Zama pays homage to Jane Austen in a contemporary love story firmly grounded in classic wrangles over family, property and clas s' Emma Hagestadt, INDEPENDENT (‘A witty, affectionate picture of modern India’ )

Kate Saunders, THE TIMES (** ‘If you’re in need of something to chase away the encroaching winter gloom, look no further than this joyous debut’ )

Melissa Katsoulis, SUNDAY TELEGRAPH (** ‘A courteous, light read’ )

Catherine Taylor, GUARDIAN (** ‘Charming, warm-hearted and funny, a delightful debut . . . a read treat’ )

'Charming, warm-hearted and funny, a delightful debut... a read treat'

Charming and funny yet acutely observed, this is what Jane Austen might write if she set a story in a contemporary Indian marriage bureau.

What does somebody with a wealth of common sense do if retirement palls? Why, open a marriage bureau, of course. And soon Mr Ali, from beautiful Vizag in South India, sees his new business flourish as the indomitable Mrs Ali and able assistant Aruna look on with careful eyes. But although many clients go away happy, problems lurk behind the scenes as Aruna nurses a heart-rending secret; while Mr Ali cannot see that he rarely follows the sage advice he so freely dishes out to others. And when love comes calling for Aruna, an impossible dilemma looms... A colourful coastal town and contemporary marriage bureau prove a perfect backdrop for a splendid array of characters making sense of all sorts of pride and prejudice - and the ways in which true love won't quite let go - in this witty and big-hearted debut novel.

Farahad Zama moved to London in 1990 from Vizag in India, where the novel is set. He is a father of two, and he works for an investment bank.