Books like Journey to Ithaca by Anita Desai
In the 1970s, Matteo, an Italian bather of Lake Como’s pastoral charm, and Sophie, a practical German, set off from Europe on a pilgrimage to India. Matteo’s dreams, kindled by Hermann Hesse’s *The Journey to the East*, propel him toward spiritual enlightenment. Sophie, meanwhile, seeks fulfillment through earthly love. Together they visit swamis, gurus, and ashrams, constantly searching. Their quest takes a new dimension when they encounter a holy woman known as the Mother. The Mother’s own story—of a girl from Cairo who follows a troupe of Indian dancers across Paris, Venice, and New York before finding transcendence in India—mirrors and expands the couple’s journey, illuminating contrasting desires and shared destinies.
First publish date: 1995
Genre: Travel & Geography/Travel Writing
Authors: Anita Desai
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