Pyre

Saroja and Kumaresan are young, in love and in danger. They meet in a small southern Indian town, where Kumaresan works in a soda bottling shop, and quickly marry before returning to Kumaresan’s family village. But they are harbouring a dangerous secret: they belong to different castes, and if the villagers find out they will both be in grave peril.

Faced with venom from her mother-in-law, and pointed new questions from her new neighbours, Saroja struggles to adjust to a lonely and uncomfortable life. Kumaresan throws himself into building a new soda business, hoping to scrape together enough money for them to start over somewhere new. But as vicious whispers encircle the couple, will their love be enough to keep them safe?

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2023 INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE

FROM ONE OF INDIA’S MOST RESPECTED AND BESTSELLING WRITERS COMES A SEARING AND POIGNANT NOVEL ABOUT LOVE AND INTOLERANCE IN A SMALL VILLAGE

TWICE LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

‘With tender rage, one of India's most powerful living writers breathes life into an age-old tale of forbidden passion’ Nilanjana Roy

‘A major India writer’ New York Times