Red River: A novel

About the Book ‘This riveting novel that follows the lives of three boys growing up during the 1980s in Assam is a reminder of where xenophobia can take us, what othering can do at its worst. Rana, Rizu and Samar represent three facets of masculinity, three figures in a rake’s progress, three responses to an atmosphere of violence. Required reading.’ — Jerry Pinto, author of The Education of Yuri and Em and the Big Hoom ‘Red River is a powerful, moving and thrilling tale—epic in scale while richly rooted in the fractured borderlands of friendship, love, identity and geography. It has such depth, texture and joy, with that universal, important question at its core: how can we break free from the traumas of the past? Are we fated to repeat them? Is there redemption? Can there be reconciliation?’ — Olivia Fraser ‘With fluency and an unerring eye for detail, Somnath Batabyal has produced a moving, compelling masterpiece that must rank among the best political novels in English to come out of the region. His finely sketched protagonists are from a deeply troubled time in Assam, Bhutan, Bengal and Bangladesh. Love and hate, loyalty and betrayal singe the pages. I did not want the book to end and, at times, found myself close to tears.’ — Sanjoy Hazarika, author of Strangers of the Mist ‘A modern epic of three boyhood friends and shifting loyalties in a conflict-lashed land. Somnath Batabyal’s characters became real to me; a miraculous, heartbreaking, unforgettable novel.’ — Nilanjana Roy, author of Black River A FAST-PACED NOVEL ABOUT THREE BOYS WHO GROW UP IN THE EARLY YEARS OF MILITANCY IN ASSAM AND TAKE DIFFERENT PATHS INTO ADULTHOOD AND LOVE. A sprawling novel set in the north-east of India, this is a lyrical exploration of male friendships and love—a man's love for a woman and a more militant love for community and nation. The action moves from Guwahati to Dhaka, Bhutan and London, surging and quietening as we encounter characters and situations so close to the bone that it's hard to step away till the last word has been read. About the Author Somnath Batabyal is the author of two books, The Price You Pay, a political thriller set in Delhi, and Making News in India, an ethnography of television news practices in Rupert Murdoch’s ventures in India. He lives in London, where he teaches at the School of Oriental and African Studies. Read more