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Jeet Thayil

Book of Chocolate Saints

Book of Chocolate Saints

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  • Condition: Brand new
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  • More about Book of Chocolate Saints

The Book of Chocolate Saints is a novel by Jeet Thayil that follows the character Francis Newton Xavier, a self-destructive figure living a wild existence of excess in pursuit of his artistic vision. His paintings and poems embody the decadent jeu d'esprit of his heroes, and his journey home to India becomes a voyage into his past. The book is celebrated at a show in Delhi and is considered to be intoxicating, blazingly intelligent literary fiction that consolidates Thayil's reputation as one of the most exciting writers of his generation.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 496 pages
Publication date: 07 February 2019
Publisher: Faber & Faber



The novel follows the unforgettable character Francis Newton Xavier, a self-destructive figure living a wild existence of excess in pursuit of his uncompromising aesthetic vision. Jeet Thayil paints a hallucinatory portrait of Xavier, a charismatic contrarian, and a tortured artist battling with his conflicting instincts. His paintings and poems embody the decadent jeu d'esprit of his heroes like Baudelaire, forging his reputation.

Approaching middle age, Xavier leaves Manhattan following 9/11 and embarks on a journey home to India. His journey becomes a voyage into his past, from his formative years with an infamous school of Bombay poets to an uncertain future. The novel shows how Xavier's life itself can become the final monument, a testament to the power of art to transcend time and leave a lasting impact.

The Book of Chocolate Saints is a strange, beautiful hymn to the artistic life lived fearlessly. It is intoxicating, blazingly intelligent literary fiction that consolidates Thayil's reputation as one of the most exciting writers of his generation. The novel explores our deepest urges, reminding us that art is a powerful force that can shape our lives and leave a lasting legacy.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 197 x 129 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780571336111
Edition number: Main

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