A profound and powerful novel, winner of the 1975 Booker Prize.

Set in colonial India during the 1920s, Heat and Dust tells the story of Olivia, a beautiful woman suffocated by the propriety and social constraints of her position as the wife of an important English civil servant. Longing for passion and independence, Olivia is drawn into the spell of the Nawab, a minor Indian prince deeply involved in gang raids and criminal plots. She is intrigued by the Nawab's charm and aggressive courtship, and soon begins to spend most of her days in his company. But then she becomes pregnant, and unsure of the child's paternity, she is faced with a wrenching dilemma. Her reaction to the crisis humiliates her husband and outrages the British community, breeding a scandal that lives in collective memory long after her death.

A strange and disturbing little book. One can really feel the intensity of the atmosphere that surrounds Olivia; you can almost see it eating away at her and can feel how desperate she is for some change, whether for good or bad, from her situation. I'm not sure that all in all I really liked Olivia very much but there's something admirable in her, regardless, that I had to respect. Great cast of supporting characters, and the contemporary storyline that's interwoven with Olivia's is quite interesting too.

I sent this on to VeganMedusa a few days ago via the Passport to the World VBB. Hope you enjoy it!

Thanks geishabird!

I'm not sure I liked Olivia or the modern woman (can't remember her name?). A good read though, interesting times.
Reserved for Kiri.

On its way to Kiri.

TBR