Travelers

by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Book Overview

India's ambience affects the lives of group of westerners searching for more meaningful lives.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060121939
• ISBN13: 9780060121938
• Release Date: January 1973
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 247 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.

Customer Reviews

It's Been Awhile, But...

It's been over a year since I completed this book. I originally picked it up at my local bookstore when I was in need of reading material for a bus trip to Florida. Since the book was about India and was by a rather esteemed author, I bought it. I started reading the book during the nighttime portion of my bus trip and was reluctant to put it down when everyone wanted to sleep. I found myself wanting to take my time with the book. It carried a wonderful message and I was very happy with my choice.It ultimately took me almost two months to finish the book. I would put it down, pick it up - repeat cycle...but when I finished I felt oddly...gratified. Mind you, I didn't keep putting the book down because I was dissatisfied. Instead, it was due to what I said above - I wanted to draw out my experience with it.I highly recommend this book and anything by Ruth Jhabvala. She has a true flare for her characters and the surroundings of India. This book was lyrically beautiful - and the character of Gopi, no matter how annoying he may seem, will win you over in the end. Enjoy!

No Merchant-Ivory writing here...

at least not in the usual sense. The Merchant-Ivory team, which made movies like Remains Of The Day, used to make movies about India. Jhabvala, of course, has written all of the team's movies, and a fair helping of fiction as well. This dates back to the early days of Merchant-Ivory (1973).Two of the titular travelers are westerners who have come to India, one for apparently no reason other than to relax, and one to experience enlightment. They are offset by two Indians. The paths of all four quickly intertwine.This is a book about two things. On the one hand, it's a meticulous character study. On the other hand, it's all about westerners interfering with other cultures. It's a time capsule look at what the Beatles wrought in the wake of their visit to India. It's engrossing, well-written (simple and straighforward, no flowery metaphors), and, to a certain extent, it's history.