"What I am interested now is myself in India" writes Jhabvala in the introduction to this delightful collection of short stories. The stories paint an interesting portrait of Indian life and values from a Western perspective. When caste and tradition provide conflict, the author often deliberately draws her characters within certain moral lines. When Durga choses to shirk the traditional role of widow to live as she pleases, we feel resentment towards her self-serving family. To write Jhabvala off as a Western critique of Eastern values, however, sells her short. The characters are more often than not, multi-dimensional, albeit tragically devoid of insight. Many are self-sacrificing and overall noble in intent. While characters and themes are for the most part less than clear cut, what emerges from these Indian-themed tales of love, marriage, and disappointment is that Jhabvala is one fantastic writer.
Do You like book Out Of India: Selected Stories (1999)?
