The Promoter (Paperback)  | Released: 2015

A dark comedy of desire, this is the story of Bodhi Banerjee, a small-time real estate developer who is “always pondering the big moral question of all time. How to do good and be right and win at the same time?” Bodhi’s life unravels as he becomes the central figure in a struggle to preserve a heritage building. His descent is assisted by a large cast of characters- Neera, the woman of his dreams, enigmatic, idealistic, wealthy, and given to dropping hints that she may be in love with someone else. Chhotomama, his communist uncle who is moralistic, and obstinate, and the instigator of the fight over the historic house. Cookie, Bodhi’s business partner, who has several disturbing tendencies, including untimely honesty and general immoderation. And a family of fallen tycoons, including a deceased philandering patriarch. All these characters collide over two months of farce in sweltering Calcutta. About the AuthorSanjoy Chakravorty has written several books of nonfiction on subjects like inequality, industrialisation, immigration, and land. His last book (The Price of Land) was shortlisted for the 2013 Crossword Award. The Promoter is his first work of fiction. It was written in Philadelphia and Calcutta, the gorgeously crumbling twins born a decade apart, where he spends most of his time.