The Crow Eaters

Author: Bapsi Sidhwa
Publisher: Penguin
Year: 1999
Language: English
Pages: 283
ISBN/UPC (if available): 0140148124

Description

In this wickedly comic novel, the celebrated author of Ice-Candy-Man takes us into the heart of the Parsi community, portraying its varied customs and traits with contagious humor.

Freddie's mother-in-law, Jerbanoo, thinks he is planning to do away with her, but Freddie has always been a pragmatist: if the old woman were to die (be murdered?)the body would have to be placed on the open-roofed Towers of Silence, in keeping with custom, and that would never do.

Insurance fraud and arson, however, are well within Freddie's repertoire - in fact he thinks he has invented the idea, so advanced is it for India, in 1901 . . . As his 'skills' grow he becomes a man of consequence among the Parsis, with people travelling thousands of miles to see him in Lahore, especially if they wish to escape tight spots they have got themselves into.

Ruthlessly truthful, deeply perceptive, she tells her story with rare courage, frankness and good humor. The Crow Eater will certainly endear her to every reader who comes across the book. A veritable tour de force. - FAIZ AHMED FAIZ

The crow Eaters never fails to entertain. Sidhwa writes with an earthy zest and affection for her characters that make us hope for subsequent novels continuing the Jungewalla sage. - NEW YORK TIMES

Funny, exotic, bawdy, ingenious, always entertaining . . . A rollicking novel. - PEOPLE