The Namesake

'Quietly dazzling... The Namesake is that rare thing: an intimate, closely observed family portrait that effortlessly and discreetly unfolds to disclose a capacious social vision... Jhumpa Lahiri has taken the haunting chamber music of her first collection of stories and reorchestrated its themes of exile and identity to create a symphonic work, a debut novel that is as assured and eloquent as the work of a longtime master of the craft.' Michiko Kakutani, New York Times

Praise for Interpreter of Maladies:

‘Lahiri is a writer of uncommon elegance and poise, and with Interpreter of Maladies she has made a precocious debut.’ New York Times

‘After reading three of these stories, I found myself rationing the remaining six, to try to make the book last longer. A lovely collection.’ Scotsman

‘Strong, subtle... a debut to relish.’ Guardian

‘One of the finest short story writers I’ve read’ Amy Tan

‘The genius of Lahiri’s storytelling lies in her restrained drollery, her eye for details, and her tone of wise consolation.’ Harpers & Queen

‘Dazzling writing... Simply put, Lahiri displays a remarkable maturity and ability to imagine other lives.’ USA Today

‘Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake is a patient, quiet novel about identity. As with her short story collection, the prose is lyrical and rich with details that bring to life characters torn between old world traditions and assimilation. Though it doesn't really break any new ground, the writing is so precise and the characters (particularly Gogol) so well-defined, that one doesn't mind and takes The Namesake for what it is: an engrossing tale told by a uniquely talented author. ‘ Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner