[posted with the writer’s permission]

 

From: Sunil Amrith
Subject: re: River of Smoke
To: chrestomather@yahoo.in
Date: Thursday, 16 June, 2011, 9:52 AM

re: River of Smoke

 

Dear Amitav Ghosh,

I just wanted to say how very much I enjoyed River of Smoke: it brought me the greatest pleasure and illumination.

I am currently trying to write a history of the Bay of Bengal, for Harvard University Press, and I am coming to realise just how much my imagination of the region has been shaped by characters and episodes from your writing. As it happened I was just writing a chapter on the early Indian migrants to Singapore when I read those magnificent scenes in River of Smoke set there – I found them most evocative.

I was sorry to miss your recent talks in London, I was travelling at the time, it would have been wonderful to hear you read from River of Smoke.

With all good wishes

Sunil

 

Dr Sunil Amrith

Department of History, Classics & Archaeology

Birkbeck College, University of London

30 Russell Square

London WC1B 5DQ

 

4 thoughts on “Letter from a historian”
  1. Hi Amitav,

    I listened your talk on the Kim Hill show this morning. I haven’t read any of your book, yet. But, the talk that you gave this morning made me have interent in your books. It was very interesting to hear your story about the books that you have written. I also like travel. I should have thought about being an academic to have opportunities for travel! 😉

    Thanks and all the best for your new book!

    Mia

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