The Bus Stopped - Hardcover

A very angry bus driver, abandoned by his wife and going nowhere in his career; a sanctimonious conductor; a hijra, or eunuch, a remnant of India's Muslim glory days; a nervous, half-Indian businessman clutching a briefcase-full of cash; a right-wing Hindu matriarch; a young boy returning to his village after robbing his employer . . . They meet - and witness a tragic event - only because they are all travelling on the same bus, in the same direction, on the same day. With exceptional poise and beguiling simplicity, Khair introduces a range of voices, thoughts, ideas and identities, allowing each individual's story to unfold gradually. The Bus Stopped is an enthralling and entertaining portrayal of India and its people.

A poet, novelist and critic, Tabish Khair was born in India in 1966. His second novel (the first to be published by Picador), The Bus Stopped , was short-listed for the Encore Award in the UK. He now lives in Denmark.