Clive James — The Silver Castle

Picador 1997 Paperback, 263pp. A dark fairy tale by one of Britain's wittiest and most popular personalities that plays to the fascination with India. Imagine Voltaire writing Candide in Calcutta in 1997. In this magical novel, which has been acclaimed as his finest fiction to date, James tells the heartbreaking yet hysterically funny story of a young Indian boy named Sanjay who escapes from the world of abject poverty and cons his way into India's lavish and decadent film scene. James appeals to all emotions in an affectionate, sexy, and ultimately tragic comedy written with his trademark dry wit. The Silver Castle is both entertaining and perceptive. He touches on the heartfelt issues in modern-day India, such as class and the clash between the traditional and the secular. (ISBN: 9780330353892). Good.