Chosen by The New York Times Book Review as one of the best books of 1986, this volume of stories, selected by the author from her own early work, represents the essence of her Indian experience. Bearing Jhabvala's hallmark of balance, subtlety, wry humor, and beauty, these stories present characters that prove to be as vulnerable to the contradictions and oppressions of the human heart as to those of India itself.Praise for Out of India
“...There is not a shoddy line or unnecessary word here; the book has the hallmark of balance, subtlety, humor and beauty.” —New York Times Book Review
“In plain, unassuming prose that doesn't altogether conceal the tears and laughter that give it urgency, the story of many different Indias unfolds in these 15 tales... All the stories, unrelated but focusing on the search for a quiet center that justifies disjointed and woebegone lives, are woven together in a glowing tapestry enriched by profound knowledge, humor and compassion.” —Publishers Weekly
“The writing is brilliant. The reader feels the excitement of seamlessly knitted images that grow, one out of another, into a woven cloth of world.” —The Village Voice
“[A] collection of rare and exotic quality.” —Boston Herald
“These stories do not demystify India; they pay the place tributes of empathy and grace.” —Time Magazine