Great Eastern Hotel

Great Eastern Hotel is a grand epic novel set in Calcutta during World War II, featuring a cast of characters from different backgrounds and a vivid portrayal of the city's culture and politics. It has received widespread critical acclaim for its scope, detail, and entertainment value, with many comparing it to the works of Charles Dickens and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The novel has been praised for its ability to render place and time, its ability to capture the spirit of India on the brink of independence, and its ability to bring historical events to life.

Format: Hardback
Length: 920 pages
Publication date: 17 July 2025
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Beautifully written, sensually described, and deeply felt, Great Eastern Hotel is a novel that grabs you by the collar and takes you on a journey through the vibrant and chaotic streets of Calcutta during the tumultuous years leading up to India's independence. Set in 1941, the novel follows the lives of four individuals who find themselves intertwined with the Great Eastern Hotel, a luxurious and iconic landmark in the city. Nirupama, a history student and Communist Party volunteer, Imogen, the English daughter of a Raj official, Kedar, an aspiring painter, and Gopal, a young pickpocket, are all caught up in the political and social upheaval of the time. The novel is a maximalist epic that captures the essence of Calcutta's culture, history, and people. Joshis ability to render place and time is truly first-rate, and the novel is rich in detail and gloriously entertaining. The lives of these four individuals intertwine with those at the hotel, including an American soldier who plays jazz at the nightclub, a genius French chef, an heiress fleeing from the nightmare in Europe, and a group of military officers running a secret intelligence operation. Great Eastern Hotel brings to life India on the brink of independence, an epic tale of belonging, love, art, and how individual lives can become swept up in the tides of history. Joshis ability to render place and time is truly first-rate, and the novel is rich in detail and gloriously entertaining. The lives of these four individuals intertwine with those at the hotel, including an American soldier who plays jazz at the nightclub, a genius French chef, an heiress fleeing from the nightmare in Europe, and a group of military officers running a secret intelligence operation. Great Eastern Hotel brings to life India on the brink of independence, an epic tale of belonging, love, art, and how individual lives can become swept up in the tides of history.

Weight: 1312g
Dimension: 164 x 242 x 62 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780007143931