A wide-eyed boy growing up in suburban Calcutta in the 1960s experiences the world through the eyes of others - an intoxicating older cousin, a grandmother who weaves stories from the past and a family in London whose lives are intertwined with his. When a seemingly random act of violence threatens his vision of the world, he begins piecing together events for himself, and in the process unravels secrets with devastating consequences.
Set in Calcutta and London and spanning generations from the outbreak of the Second World War to the late twentieth century, The Shadow Lines is a haunting novel from one of the world's greatest writers.
The Shadow Lines
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Review
Stunning . . . amusing, sad, wise (New York Times Book Review )
Ghosh has found his own distinctive voice - polished and profound . . . A compelling novel, wistful in its tone, assured in its achieved vision (Times Literary Supplement )
PRAISE FOR SEA OF POPPIES (- )
'Sea of Poppies Boasts a varied collection of characters to love and hate, and provides wonderfully detailed descriptions of opium production ... utterly involving and piles on tension until the very last page' (Peter Parker, Sunday Times )
'A glorious babel of a novel ... marvellously inventive ... utterly involving ... The next volume cannot come too soon' (Sunday Times )
'An utterly involving book' (Sunday Times )
'This is a panoramic adventure story, with a Dickensian energy and scope' (Sunday Telegraph )
'Ghosh's narrative is enriched with a wealth of historical detail ... as well as intricate characterisation that makes interaction among the diverse group truly absorbing' (The Times )
'There can be fewer more exciting settings for a novel than a sea-tossed sailing ship ... Ghosh piles detail upon detail in a rumbustical adventure' (The Times )
'Ripping post-colonial yarn ... Ghosh spins a fine story with a quite irresistible flow, breathing exuberant life ... an absorbing vision' (Guardian )
'A remarkably rich saga' (Observer )
'Each scene is boldly drawn, but it is the sheer energy and verve of Amitav Ghosh's storytelling that binds this ambitious medley' (Daily Mail )
This is a corker (Spectator )
Ghosh turns the ship into something robustly, bawdily and indelibly real . . . a plot of Dickensian intricacy (New York Times )
'A master of fiction' (Economist )
'A richly drawn cast of characters ... gilded with expertly-mined historical detail' (Sunday Business Post )
'The fantastic Anglo-Asian language they speak is infectious, and the sombre yet uncertain conclusion leaves one eager for the second novel in the trilogy' (Daily Telegraph )
'A captivating cast ... Ghosh's saga is enriched with a blizzard of Laskari- and Hindi-derived words that add irrepressible energy to the narrative' (Metro )
'Beautifully written, this totally absorbing novel will leave you eagerly awaiting a second instalment' (She Magazine )
'...this first volume in a promise trilogy is a gem.' (Guardian )
Ghosh has found his own distinctive voice - polished and profound . . . A compelling novel, wistful in its tone, assured in its achieved vision (Times Literary Supplement )
PRAISE FOR SEA OF POPPIES (- )
'Sea of Poppies Boasts a varied collection of characters to love and hate, and provides wonderfully detailed descriptions of opium production ... utterly involving and piles on tension until the very last page' (Peter Parker, Sunday Times )
'A glorious babel of a novel ... marvellously inventive ... utterly involving ... The next volume cannot come too soon' (Sunday Times )
'An utterly involving book' (Sunday Times )
'This is a panoramic adventure story, with a Dickensian energy and scope' (Sunday Telegraph )
'Ghosh's narrative is enriched with a wealth of historical detail ... as well as intricate characterisation that makes interaction among the diverse group truly absorbing' (The Times )
'There can be fewer more exciting settings for a novel than a sea-tossed sailing ship ... Ghosh piles detail upon detail in a rumbustical adventure' (The Times )
'Ripping post-colonial yarn ... Ghosh spins a fine story with a quite irresistible flow, breathing exuberant life ... an absorbing vision' (Guardian )
'A remarkably rich saga' (Observer )
'Each scene is boldly drawn, but it is the sheer energy and verve of Amitav Ghosh's storytelling that binds this ambitious medley' (Daily Mail )
This is a corker (Spectator )
Ghosh turns the ship into something robustly, bawdily and indelibly real . . . a plot of Dickensian intricacy (New York Times )
'A master of fiction' (Economist )
'A richly drawn cast of characters ... gilded with expertly-mined historical detail' (Sunday Business Post )
'The fantastic Anglo-Asian language they speak is infectious, and the sombre yet uncertain conclusion leaves one eager for the second novel in the trilogy' (Daily Telegraph )
'A captivating cast ... Ghosh's saga is enriched with a blizzard of Laskari- and Hindi-derived words that add irrepressible energy to the narrative' (Metro )
'Beautifully written, this totally absorbing novel will leave you eagerly awaiting a second instalment' (She Magazine )
'...this first volume in a promise trilogy is a gem.' (Guardian )
About the Author
Amitav Ghosh was born in Calcutta in 1956. He grew up in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and India. He studied at the universities of Delhi and Oxford and published the first of six novels, The Circle of Reason in 1986. He has taught at a number of institutions, most recently Harvard, and written for many publications. He currently divides his time between Calcutta, Goa and Brooklyn, and is writing the next volume of what will become The Ibis Trilogy.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By E N Cuentro
Format:Paperback
For any novel, but especially for a first novel, this is an extraordinary achievement. Dealing in history, human frailty, the lenses of memory and self deception, the sources of identity and belonging: this is a brief epic which is never grandiose, and always close to human experience.
The inner world of the narrator is so pitch perfect it hurts. You can feel him growing, and the people around him too. Each and every personality in it is startlingly realised. The narrative forces its way on, covering a great emotional range. The style is impeccable - restrained, precise and beautiful or harsh and the situation demands.
I suppose that no one reading this review will believe quite how good The Shadow Lines is - and apparently his other books don't quite reach the same standard. This, however, is a great, neglected work of modern literature.
The inner world of the narrator is so pitch perfect it hurts. You can feel him growing, and the people around him too. Each and every personality in it is startlingly realised. The narrative forces its way on, covering a great emotional range. The style is impeccable - restrained, precise and beautiful or harsh and the situation demands.
I suppose that no one reading this review will believe quite how good The Shadow Lines is - and apparently his other books don't quite reach the same standard. This, however, is a great, neglected work of modern literature.
44 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By elsa
Format:Paperback
The Shadow lines is not what it appears to be. But as one slowly moves through this story spanning generations and continents, one feels a familiar old pull within. that of memory, identity, which in this ever changing world is constantly in a flux. The protagonist is a boy who grows up admiring his cousin Tridib, who with the power of words (and maps) enlivens this little boy's life. Tridib shares a bond with May, his father's English friend's daughter. Meanwhile, our protagonist too grows up listening to his cousin Ila's tales from all over the world, thanks to her IFS officer.
Between all these complex relationship is grandmother, who lives in nostlagia of that enchanted childhood she had in Dhaka before partition. The book moves slowly beautifully and conflict makes the incision at the right points. The complex web of relationships, of love, honour, friendship is cruelly broken when riots break out.
Beautifully written, the book gives a fresh perspective to those who have faced political conflicts
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Alison McVey
Format:Paperback
This story opens in Calcutta in the 1960s. A young boy lives with his parents and his Grandmother. The young boy is drawn to the exotic, which for him is his extended family who have travelled to London, who know people in London. His inner life centres on a world that, fed by stories, he knows only in his imagination.
As the novel progresses, more members of the extended family appear and more links are drawn between London and Calcutta. Sometimes it is a bit difficult to follow - there aren't many family members, but somehow I found it difficult to keep track of where they fitted in - a small family tree might have helped.
The style is dreamy, understated and retrospective. It says 'wistful' on the backcover of my copy, so don't expect a lot of action.
Would I recommend it? Yes and no. I was fascinated by the vision of England as created by a young Indian boy in the 1960s, but ultimately it I feel it falls into a 'literary fiction' slot that isn't really my cup of tea. I'm glad that I have read it, but won't be passing it around my friends.
As the novel progresses, more members of the extended family appear and more links are drawn between London and Calcutta. Sometimes it is a bit difficult to follow - there aren't many family members, but somehow I found it difficult to keep track of where they fitted in - a small family tree might have helped.
The style is dreamy, understated and retrospective. It says 'wistful' on the backcover of my copy, so don't expect a lot of action.
Would I recommend it? Yes and no. I was fascinated by the vision of England as created by a young Indian boy in the 1960s, but ultimately it I feel it falls into a 'literary fiction' slot that isn't really my cup of tea. I'm glad that I have read it, but won't be passing it around my friends.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another good book by Amitav Ghosh
I found the story-line slightly confusing as he jumps in time to make his analogy. I would have preferred it to be writte in chapters so that I could put it down at the end of a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Ginetta
4.0 out of 5 stars
a Very good read
Choice of reading group. Wide ranging in many countries in the far East and interesting interaction of characters down the ages. Interesting historically.
Published 2 months ago by Mary Forbes
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Shadow Lines by Amitav Gosh.
This is a beautifully written book, the author has a great command of English language. It is set in Calcutta and London over a number of years and it is well worth a read.
Published 4 months ago by tobykin
5.0 out of 5 stars
My order of the novel
it was wonderful----very fine copy. I will be buying more from you for sure. Thanks.
Thanks a lot.
najma saher
Thanks a lot.
najma saher
Published 5 months ago by najma saher
2.0 out of 5 stars
My other wife was Indian
I heard the author of shadow lines during the night om BBC World Service. Seemed like a nice chap I thought, so downloaded the book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mr. D. C. Yule
1.0 out of 5 stars
not for me
I was disappointed with this book, I didn't like the way it kept jumping around from one time zone to another. The characters were not well drawn. Read more
Published 22 months ago by richie
5.0 out of 5 stars
One to seek out
Nicely written, and I felt the story makes its point in a subtle and gentle way.
Regardless of the path the story takes, there is a great level of authenticity at all... Read more
Regardless of the path the story takes, there is a great level of authenticity at all... Read more
Published on 9 April 2011 by PunjabiPrincess
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