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A Burning

The most electrifying debut of 2021

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A Burning

By: Megha Majumdar
Narrated by: Vikas Adam, Priya Ayyar, Deepti Gupta, Ulka Simone Mohanty, Soneeia Nankani, Neil Shah
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About this listen

 'Immaculately constructed, acidly observed and gripping from start to finish, A Burning is a brilliant debut.' The Guardian

'A big hit in America last year, this buzzy debut about the impact of a terrorist attack in a Kolkata slum on three connected characters is full of hot-button global topics, including violent nationalism' Metro

‘Powerful. […] Majumdar’s page-turning thriller seeks to open our eyes to the role of persecution in populist politics’ – Mail on Sunday

‘An evocative insight into class, corruption, injustice and power dynamics, this poignant tale makes for memorable reading’ Cosmopolitan

‘Majumdar conjures up three notably effervescent, intense voices’? Daily Telegraph

'A brilliant character study about politics and power, this assured debut moves at a thriller's pace but with a meticulous eye for detail.' Nikesh Shukla

A girl walks through the slums of Kolkata holding an armful of books. She returns home smelling of smoke, and checks her most prized possession: a brand-new smartphone, purchased in instalments. On Facebook, there is only one conversation.

#KolabaganTrainAttack

On the small, glowing screen, she types a dangerous thing…

‘If the police didn’t help ordinary people like you and me, if the police watched them die, doesn’t that mean that the government is also a terrorist?’

Set in contemporary India, A Burning is the story of three unforgettable characters, all dreaming of a better future, whose lives are changed for ever when they become caught up in the devastating aftermath of a terrorist attack.

Jivan – a poor, young, Muslim girl, who dreams of going to college – faces a possible death sentence after being accused of collaborating with the terrorists.
Lovely – an exuberant hijra who longs to be a Bollywood star – holds the alibi that can set Jivan free, but telling the truth will cost her everything she holds dear.
PT Sir – an opportunistic gym teacher who once taught Jivan – becomes involved with Hindu nationalist politics and his own ascent is soon inextricably linked to Jivan’s fall.

Taut, propulsive and electrifying, from its opening lines to its astonishing finale, A Burning confronts issues of class, fate, prejudice and corruption with a Dickensian sense of injustice, and asks us to consider what it means to nurture big ambitions in a country hurtling towards political extremism.

A Burning is a novel for our times and for all time.
©2020 Meghar Majumdar (P)2020 Simon & Schuster UK Fiction Genre Fiction Political

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All stars
Most relevant
It's a fine story that explores media influenced society and how it can change lives and cost them too. I preferred Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. For that immersion into India's societal attitude and a flavour of how life works there

Good read

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A heartbreaking but not sentimental story of modern India. It's beautifully written; the characters are so real and captivating that they'll live with you. It deserves the best narration, and it gets it. I'll seek out more by Megha Majumdar.

Exquisite Storytelling

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“Happiness was but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain.”
— Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge
I was so often reminded of this quote as I read this novel.
Very touching, very moving.

“Happiness was but the occasional episode in a general drama of pain.” — Thomas Hardy, The Mayor of Casterbridge

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Completely caught up from beginning to end - incredible narration all round and a story that is so resonant and so well written. Would highly recommend to anyone.

Exceptional

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An insight into real lives, small scale corruption causing much bigger damage, and the winners and losers in it all. I particularly appreciated the window on transexual culture in India. A mesmerising tale.

Insightful

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