From its very first contact with the West, India has been subject to great mystification. India's long history, the survival of ancient rituals, and its variety of languages and cultures, continues to fascinate.
This narrative is intertwined with a newer one that sees the frenetic change of a society at the forefront of innovation. Success stories coexist alongside stories of daily struggle. A large slice of the population still does not have access to drinking water, and agriculture (still the main source of livelihood for most of the 1.3 billion people who live there) is threatened by climate change. India is a country that does not know how to eradicate one of the most infamous forms of classism/racism: the caste system. From the resistance of the Kashmiri people to that of atheists - hated by all religious communities - from the dances of the 'hijra' in Koovagam to the success of the female wrestler Vinesh Phogat, learn about the contradictory, terrible and joyful chaos that lies at the heart of India.
From its very first contact with the West, India has been subject to great mystification. India's long history, the survival of ancient rituals, and its variety of languages and cultures, continues to fascinate.
This narrative is intertwined with a newer one that sees the frenetic change of a society at the forefront of innovation. Success stories coexist alongside stories of daily struggle. A large slice of the population still does not have access to drinking water, and agriculture (still the main source of livelihood for most of the 1.3 billion people who live there) is threatened by climate change. India is a country that does not know how to eradicate one of the most infamous forms of classism/racism: the caste system. From the resistance of the Kashmiri people to that of atheists - hated by all religious communities - from the dances of the 'hijra' in Koovagam to the success of the female wrestler Vinesh Phogat, learn about the contradictory, terrible and joyful chaos that lies at the heart of India.
“These books are so rich and engrossing that it is rewarding to
read them even when one is stuck at home.”
*The TLS*
“Few travel guides are confident enough to tell the stories of a
destination’s complex realities as well as those of their beauty.
[The Passenger] has a strong focus on storytelling, with pages
given over to a mix of essays, playlists and sideways glances at
subcultures and thorny urban issues.”
*The Stack*
“Half-magazine, half-book . . . think of [The Passenger] as an
erudite and literary travel equivalent to National Geographic, with
stunning photography and illustration and fascinating writing about
place.”
*Independent.ie (Best series of the year – 2021)*
“The Passenger readers will find none of the typical travel guide
sections on where to eat or what sights to see. Consider the books,
rather, more like a literary vacation--the kind you can take
without braving a long flight in the time of Covid-19.”
*Publisher's Weekly*
“Fresh and diverting, informative and topical without being slight
or ephemeral [...] This supremely well-edited combination of
current affairs, journalism, commentary, and fun facts is perfect
for our pause-button moment.”
*Australian Financial Review (Best Books of the Year)*
“Tremendously eclectic and classily produced . . . each volume gets
under the skin of a country or a city in a multifaceted way that
feels essential in these times of narrowing national horizons.”
*The Bookseller*
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