The alchemy of desire

by Tarun J. Tejpal

2006 first published English Novel 518 pages 2 editions

RomanceLiterary fiction

‘Puts Tejpal in the front rank of Indian novelists. I agree with Naipaul: this is a masterpiece. A novel that must be read.’—Khuswant Singh Set against the backdrop of India at the turn of the millennium, The Alchemy of Desire tells the story of a young couple, penniless but gloriously in love. They leave behind small-town life for the chaos of the city, where the man, consumed by the dream of becoming a writer works feverishly on his novel, stopping only to pursue his ceaseless desire for his beautiful wife. A chance windfall allows the lovers to abandon the city for a mist-shrouded spur of the lower Himalayas and move into a sprawling old bungalow, which they hope will embody their love. But during renovations of the house, a set of diaries written by the original inhabitant—a glamorous American adventuress—is unearthed, and the narrator finds himself irresistibly drawn away from his wife and thrust into another world and time—into the hole of history. As his life and love fall apart, he slowly begins to uncover the dark secrets of the house, until the shocking truth is laid bare and all certainties are overturned. Inventive, playful, heartbreaking, brimming with ideas and memorable characters, Tarun Tejpal’s debut novel—unlike any other in contemporary fiction—is not just a love story. It is a profound meditation on desire, obsession, art, memory, and India. This anniversary edition brings back a modern classic to a new generation of readers.