Amrita: Or to Whom She Will

by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

"'Not only does it depict life in present-day Delhi but, in its subtlety and in the excellence of its writing it seems to suggest that at long last a real Anglo-Indian literature may be growing up . . . There have surely been few better expositions of the workings of the Indian mind than this intelligent and irresistibly amusing novel.' The Times.

'One of the most intriguing novels by an English-speaking Indian I have yet come across. Miss Jhabvala has a talent for quietly witty irony that would hardly disgrace Jane Austen. Miss Jhabvala is a discovery, we shouldn't neglect her.' The Daily Telegraph.

'A very tender, powerfully written love story against the pulsing background of present-day New Delhi. This Indian novelist uses her pen with a fine sense of delicacy, understanding and kindly good humour. This is a book that entertains supremely, and gives the Western reader vivid pictures of very modern Indian domestic life. A book, also, not easily forgotten.' Yorkshire Observer.

[from the front flap]

Genres: India, Fiction

237 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1955

About the author

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala was a British and American novelist and screenwriter. She is best known for her collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions, made up of film director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant.
In 1951, she married Indian architect Cyrus Jhabvala and moved to New Delhi. She began then to elaborate her experiences in India and wrote novels and tales on Indian subjects. She wrote a dozen novels, 23 screenplays, and eight collections of short stories and was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas List of the 1998 New Years Honours and granted a joint fellowship by BAFTA in 2002 with Ivory and Merchant. She is the only person to have won both a Booker Prize and an Oscar.

Reviews

[Lia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amusing story about the clashes between tradition and modernity, east and west, in 1950s India. I struggled to care about any of the characters or the plot, so have to give it 2 stars.

India

[Khalekan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent comedy of manners set in India but not written by an Indian author, despite her name.

The usual Indian themes of arranged marriage, caste differences and social climbing are handled in a light hearted way by the author of Heat and Dust.

I have no doubt that Vikram Seth would have been a fan of this book as one can see the template for many of the characters in A Suitable Boy laid out in the story of Amrita.

[Kaili Brande · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unexpected interesting ending. Gives a vivid picture of India in the first half of the 1900's, and describes characters' emotions in a descriptive and often funny way.

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author allways makes me feel I've taken a trip to India. In this case around arranging for a marriage.

[Lachmi Khemlani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed, humorous, and affectionate portrayal of a star-crossed love story in India, including the lovers and everyone in their families: https://bookswehaveread.com/2020/01/0...

[Nick Fleming · Rating 3 out of 5]

If gossip girl were indian and had more than a few extra brain cells then you'd probably end up somewhere near here. In summary; men are shits, money is nice, and gosh, wouldn't it be nice to leave the house.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it- it made me laugh out loud; the way she describes the annoying traits of the characters, their innermost thoughts, and their idiosyncrasies is genius. It is dated though, and unapologetically stereotypical in its portrayal of Indian people. I am surprised that not more people have read this... I can't wait to read 'Heat and Dust'- to see how it compares.

[Chanpheng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Indian comedy of manners, about a young couple who say they love each other. Their families make other arrangements and they go through some pretty strange motions.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, very humorous. I enjoyed the writing style, a mix of making her characters completely lacking in self awareness and sometimes depth that the moments of true clarity are all the more clear.

[Pauline McGonagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Same book as that titled 'From Whom She Will.

[Pauline McGonagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the same book as 'Amrita'.