Delhi: A Novel

Khushwant Singh is a terrific writer and Delhi is an absorbing account of history of the city of Delhi told from the perspective of a series of stories, each of which is told by a different character from a different period of history. In between the stories is woven a narrative of modern Delhi. Singh is certainly not afraid to take risks and doesn't pull any punches. He expores historical events that are frequently harsh and also explores the human soul which also delves into the territory of hidden truths that can be disturbing for anyone wanting to remain in the safety zone of propriety. Singh also shows a sharp sense of humour and he often juxtaposes humour against a backdrop of poignant moments. I highly recommend this book for those readers who have a strong stomach for truth about human life.

A very creative way to tell the history. It is hard to find anybody with the same style as Khushwant Singh. Once started reading it, I guarantee that you will not stop it.

Khushwant Singh - one writer who can shock a reader out of their senses without alienating them. His writing style has be tagged everything on the spectrum - from brilliant to scandalous. Whatever may be the case, he is one of the most important English language writers of this century. He has tackled ever subject from religion to politics. His capabilities are unlimited from fiction to non-fiction. Enough said about the writer. I picked this book due to its title. Being a Delhi born myself, I was more then curious to find more about one of the most fascinating world destinations. This book is a delicate balance of fiction and non-fiction. It chronicles the history of New Delhi from the eyes of an old Sikh guide - Mr. Singh. His passionate romance with Bhagmati - a hermaphrodite and a representation of Delhi is beautifully paralleled. It progresses with chapters divided in narrations by poets, sultans, soldiers, white memsahibs. Laden with every possible creative/literary technique, this book is a must read for those interested in world fiction, socio-cultural studies, world history... and more.

Khushwant Singh is the Master of Bawd ! This novel is the product of twenty-five years of his libidinal excursions into literature. As he says in the foreword, he has injected liberally, in this interpretation of the history of Delhi, the stores of his seminal fluid. Only a master of the language like Khushwant Singh can write such an erudite thesis on the expulsion of wind from the nether orifices - the chapter on farts is a masterpiece. The weaving of the past and the present with a characteristic Khushwant-style bawdy humor, can be appreciated truly only by the denizens of Delhi, who have grown up reading his novels, articles and jokes. But I highly recommend reading this masterpiece from the author of The Train to Pakistan. Only true Khushwant Singh fans can appreciate the untying of the Pyjama Cord of History that he has attempted in this novel (like his heroes who invariably open the heroine's pyjama cords).

The book starts early in this millenium, and with each alternate chapter proceeds through the centuries until the present time, alternating with chapters based in the present. The chapters dealing with the past are fanstastic especially if you know the city of Delhi and have curiosity about its history. The story is told from the viewpoints of various characters, with different styles, and is really a marvelous read. unfortunatley the parts dealing with the present (or within the last 50 years) are rather lame. Only the first and the last chapters that tell of the present are must reads. The rest are quite forgettable and quite disturbing to the sensibilities of many. But despite this, the book has to be read by anybody who is interested in how India took its present shape over the centuries. If you don't care about the History of India, skip it.