Books like Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Name: Heat and Dust
Rating: 3.5 (2 reviews)
Author: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

Heat and Dust follows Olivia, an English colonial wife in a 1920s Indian town, whose restless boredom leads her to an illicit affair with the charming Nawab, a minor princely ruler entangled in court intrigues. The novel traces the scandal’s ripple effects, culminating in Olivia’s step‑granddaughter, fifty years later, who becomes obsessed with the letters left by the deceased woman and the mystery of her forbidden love. Through vivid, atmospheric detail, the story examines the social conditions of British India, the tensions between colonial and native powers, and the enduring impact of personal choices on generations.

First publish date: 1975

Genre: General Fiction/General Fiction

Authors: Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 3.5 (2 community ratings)

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