[tstan]

My train book this last fortnight has been Geoffrey's "Calcutta" written in 1971. In view of the many changes that have occurred in the area - at the time of writing, East Bengal was controlled by Pakistan - I wonder if any of our Bengali friends can recommend an up-to-date account of Kolkata?

I was waiting at a transit station for a connecting train this morning - normally a seven minute wait - and I was buried in the final chapter of the book when an Indian woman sat on the platform seat beside me. She opened her handbag and pulled out a paperback and started reading, then she giggled a little. I looked at her and then she pointed to my book and said  "We are reading about the same city!". Her book was Dominique Lapierre's "The City of Joy". Isn't it a small world?

[YETI]

I thought 'Calcutta: The City Revealed' was a really good book.

A little dated, but he certainly hits the nail on the head about the poverty.

I know his bleak summary of Calcutta's future hasn't (yet) happened but I loved the apocalyptic last chapter with all it's doom-laden prophecy of plagues and violent working class revolt.

Very good writer, imo.

[WonderWomanUSA]

I recently read "Calcutta" by Simon Winchester; there is a lot wrong with this book, but I didn't put it down until I'd finished it.