5 Famous Amitav Ghosh Books to Read in 2021

by Vanshika S. SEO Executive

Born on 11 July 1956 in Calcutta, Amitav Ghosh is an Indian author known for his contribution to English fiction. He is the winner of India’s highest literary honour - the 54th Jnanpith award. He was the first English-language writer to receive the Grand Prix award of the Blue Metropolis Festival in Montreal.

The top 5 famous Amitav Ghosh books to read in 2021 are as follows

The Hungry Tide

This book is one of the reader’s favourite Amitav Ghosh books. The story is based on the historical importance set up in the archipelago islands in the Bay of Bengal. It states that Shiva’s dreadlocks are the saviour of mother earth. When the Ganges initially descended from heaven, the repercussions would have destroyed the planet if not Lord Shiva would have caught it in his dreadlocks. The story also revolves around Sundarbans, wherein the tides reach more than 100 miles inland. This book keeps you hooked until the end and is recommended if you love mythological stories.

2. The Glass Palace

The story in this book is set around the Second World War. Rajkumar, the leading character in the book, is a helper in a market stall outside the Royal Palace wherein the British force has put the Burmese King, Queen and all the Court into exile. Here a lot of tension was built among Burmese, Indian and British people. There are also other characters like Miss Dolly, who shines in the story by marrying Rajkumar. Rajkumar made allies with the British, Burma and Chinese friends and associates, which led him to have an extended family in New York, London, Thailand, and Hong Kong in the post-war years.

3. River of Smoke

The story is based on the real-life crisis that happened in September 1838. The Indian Ocean experienced a major storm, and 3 ships named the Ibis, the Anahita, and the Redruth, and the onboarded people have fallen prey to this storm. River Of Smoke depicts the stories of these people who have seen the loss of their colleagues and loved ones. These losses are grieving, and unimaginable experiences one can have in their life. The real-life stories of the people who lived and died in the storm have become a favourite read among Amitav Ghosh’s books.

4. Gun Island: A Novel

In this book, Amitav Ghosh portrays ‘Gun’, a typical sword, but can change the life of a person upside down. The leading character, named Deen Datta, a dealer of rare books, spends most of his time indoors. But one fine day, he is forced to set out on a journey from India to Los Angeles and then to Venice. Along the way, he meets Piya, a Bengali American man, Tipu, an entrepreneur, Cinta, an old friend and Rafi, a desperate helper. The journey is described in an unpredictable way that hooks the audience till the very end.

5. The Calcutta Chromosome

This Amitav Ghosh book is known to be fascinating and seductive to readers. The timeline in this book is both in the past and in the future. L. Murugan is the leading character wherein the reader follows his enigmatic adventures. There’s also another character named Sir Ronald Ross, a scientist who solved the malaria puzzle in Calcutta in 1898. The summary of the story is a journey where L. Murugan is in search of the elusive ‘Calcutta Chromosome’. The book concludes as a science thriller.