Real Time - Softcover

'Chaudhuri's stories have a wonderful quiteness, depth and accuracy. There is no better writer of the human particulars and subtleties of modern Indian life.' -- Ian Jack 'The newest stories are pure marvels. I am in awe of them. Chaudhuri brings into the written realm what others have chosen to leave outside... These stories shine. They are more than an achievement.' -- Colum McCann 'The stories in this volume combine the folk-art charm and easygoing improvisations of R.K. Narayan, with the compassion and evocative atmosphere of Chekhov.' -- Michiko Kakutani * New York Times * 'Brilliant... Here, as with Chekhov or Hemingway, the reader not only accepts but relishes the ecomony.' * Guardian *

In this beautiful collection, Amit Chaudhuri's stories range from a divorcee about to enter into an arranged marriage to a teengaed poet who develops a relationship with a lonely widower, from a singing teacher struggling to make a living out of the boredom of his students to gauche teenager desperate to hurdle past his adolescence. Ripe with subtlety, elegance and deep feeling, this is vintage Chaudhuri.