From Booklist
Ah, lovely Calcutta. Not actually, according to this best-selling British writer and his son, both of whom have great familiarity with this famous--infamous?--city that was capital of India during the Raj. But Winchester pere et fils have put together a book of travel writing that, in essence, says that even if Calcutta is dirty and smelly and chaotic ("a public nightmare," "a truly infernal city"), it still casts a spell over those who stop there. For this anthology, the Winchesters each write a separate essay on what the city means to them and then, in tandem, supply a 50-page history of Calcutta, which, by their lively language, cannot fail to engage the travel literature lover. But the real "meat" of the book is the compilation of excerpts taken from a wide range of sources, including Rudyard Kipling, Rabindranath Tagore, and Paul Theroux. Like all good travel literature, these essays, and the Winchesters' introductory pieces, are capable of transporting you there--if not by magic carpet, at least on highly evocative prose. Brad Hooper
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Book Description
Calcutta is a city in a state of permanent surprise, where amazement is around every crumbling corner, and astonishment lurks over every rickshaw-puller's shoulder. It is a city that never ceases to shock those who pass through, and it is also a city that manages to delight and enthrall those who are stalwart enough to stay and brave enough to make an effort to look, and to see. Best-selling writer Simon Winchester explores his love-hate relationship with Calcutta, a city that provokes intense reactions in all who visit. Collaborating with his son Rupert, Simon muses on his time spent in Calcutta, reflecting on his experiences, preconceptions and own individual fascination with the city. The Winchesters' personal essays are presented with a selection of wide-ranging extracts penned by other visitors to this surprising city. The result is a personal view of one of the world's most resonant destinations that also acts as an essential introduction to the wealth of writing on the subject. Includes extracts by V.S. Naipaul, Paul Theroux, Rudyard Kipling, Geoffrey Moorhouse, Rabindranath Tagore, N.C. Chaudhuri, Gunter Grass, Dominique Lapierre, James Morris, Mark Twain and Vikram Seth. Simon Winchester's Calcutta provides a rare insight into the inspiration writers gain from their love for a special place.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Calcutta is a city in a state of permanent surprise, where amazement is around every crumbling corner, and astonishment lurks over every rickshaw-puller's shoulder. It is a city that never ceases to shock those who pass through, and it is also a city that manages to delight and enthrall those who are stalwart enough to stay and brave enough to make an effort to look, and to see.

Best-selling writer Simon Winchester explores his love-hate relationship with Calcutta, a city that provokes intense reactions in all who visit. Collaborating with his son Rupert, Simon muses on his time spent in Calcutta, reflecting on his experiences, preconceptions and own individual fascination with the city.

The Winchesters' personal essays are presented with a selection of wide-ranging extracts penned by other visitors to this surprising city. The result is a personal view of one of the world's most resonant destinations that also acts as an essential introduction to the wealth of writing on the subject.

Includes extracts by V. S. Naipaul, Paul Theroux, Rudyard Kipling, Geoffrey Moorhouse, Rabindranath Tagore, N. C. Chaudhuri, Günter Grass, Dominique Lapierre, James Morris, Mark Twain and Vikram Seth. Simon Winchester's Calcutta provides a rare insight into the inspiration writers gain from their love for a special place.

FROM THE CRITICS

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