The Blue Bedspread

Overview: Raj Kamal Jha was born in 1966 and spent his first eighteen years in Calcutta. He returned to the city in 1992 as an editor with the Statesman and since 1996 has been with The Indian Express first as its Deputy Editor, then as Executive Editor, Managing Editor, Editor and now Chief Editor. Shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award Winner of the Best First Book Commonwealth Writers' Award for the Eurasia region 'A ghostly, elliptical piece of prose of quite magical quality, which tells the story of one man's reconciliation with his past . . . It is undeniably powerful' - Evening Standard In a house on a Calcutta street, lit by the half-light of a yellow street lamp, lies a baby, one day old, wrapped in its hospital towel. In the next room sits a man, all alone, writing. Who is this man, at once frightened and determined? What is he writing? Where has the baby come from and where will it go? Tonight, these questions will be answered when the man unravels the dark secrets he has carried all his life . . In The Blue Bedspread Raj Kamal Jha's poetic prose echoes the loneliness of the human condition. 'Enchanting . . . Jha is not afraid to risk emotion, but he never falls into the trap of sentimentality. That is, in itself, a considerable achievement' - Daily Telegraph 'Jha has a real knack for narrative, alternating urgency and delay to the point where his virtuoso handling of the story becomes almost tricksy . . . He is a remarkable writer' - Sunday Times 'A powerful, haunting and sometimes shocking novel that deserves to be read at one sitting and then re-read' - Irish Times 'This is an incantatory, audacious book, notable for great moments of poignancy' - Guardian In A House On A Calcutta Street, Lit By The Half-light Of A Yellow Street Lamp, Lies A Baby, One Day Old, Wrapped In Its Hospital Towel. In The Next Room Sits A Man, All Alone, Writing. Who Is This Man, At Once Frightened And Determined? What Is He Writing? Where Has The Baby Come From And Where Will It Go? Tonight, These Questions Will Be Answered When The Man Unravels The Dark Secrets He Has Carried All His Life. ‘a Ghostly, Elliptical Piece Of Prose Of Quite Magical Quality, Which Tells The Story Of One Man’s Reconciliation With His Past . . . It Is Undeniably Powerful’ Edward Marriott, Evening Standard ‘enchanting . . . Jha Is Not Afraid To Risk Emotion, But He Never Falls Into The Trap Of Sentimentality. That Is, In Itself, A Considerable Achievement’ Andrew Biswell, Daily Telegraph ‘jha Has A Real Knack For Narrative, Alternating Urgency And Delay To The Point Where His Virtuoso Handling Of The Story Becomes Almost Tricksy . . . He Is A Remarkable Writer’ Phil Baker, Sunday Times ‘a Powerful, Haunting And Sometimes Shocking Novel That Deserves To Be Read At One Sitting And Then Re-read’ Cormac Kinsella, Irish Times ‘this Is An Incantatory, Audacious Book, Notable For Great Moments Of Poignancy’ Baret Magarian, Guardian Shortlisted For The Guardian First Book Award Winner Of The Best First Book Commonwealth Writers’ Award For The Eurasia Region "A midnight phone call awakens a man to inform him that his sister has died in childbirth. He is told he must keep the orphaned baby girl overnight, until her new, adopting parents can collect her. Over the course of that hot night in Calcutta, the man hurriedly writes stories to the baby sleeping on a blue bedspread in the next room: stories of the family she was born into, stories of the mother she will never know."--Jacket.