About “Narcopolis”

Narcopolis is the debut novel of Indian author Jeet Thayil, shortlisted for the 2012 Man Booker Prize. Set in 1970s Old Bombay, it concerns opium and its influence, following a narrator who arrives in Bombay and is seduced into the opium underground. (Summary adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.)

Praise for “Narcopolis”

“A brilliant first novel . . . Nothing like this exists in Indian literature.”

— The Sunday Guardian (London)

“In ambition, Narcopolis is reminiscent of Roberto Bolano; but it is Denis Johnson’s Jesus’ Son—the best junkie book of the last quarter century—that is its closer kin. Thankfully, Thayil creates something original and vital from those blueprints. One yearns for the next hit.”

— The Telegraph (U.K.)

“A reformed addict, Mr. Thayil has had personal experience with the world he describes. But he is also a published poet, who wields his words with care. His efforts are there to be seen.”

— The Economist

Book details

Published
2013
ISBN
9780143123033

Frequently asked questions

How many pages is Narcopolis?

Narcopolis by Jeet Thayil has 304 pages.

Some summaries adapted from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Book descriptions, author biographies, award records and review quotes on this page are courtesy of Penguin Random House.