ROY, Arundhati. The God of Small Things. New Delhi: IndiaInk, 1997.
8vo., original black buckram, lettered in gilt to spine; original unclipped dust wrapper with cover photograph by Sanjeev Saith; pp. [xii], 339, [i]; a near-fine copy, with a couple of light dents to upper cover and mild pushing to extremities; the wrapper a little sunned along backstrip, with small scratch to upper panel, else also fine.
First Indian edition, preceding all others.
A 1997 Booker Prize-winning novel, and Roy's debut as an author. The childhood memories of fraternal twins, with a central theme of love in its many forms; as an uncontrollable force which cannot be contained by social norms; as forbidden, romantic love; and love connected to loss and sadness.
Roy, like her mother before her, was an activist, involved in both human rights and environmental causes. Underlying references to Indian politics, cultural tensions, social discrimination and the treatment of women in India also enhance the work.
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