SOCIAL SCIENCES

A Matter of Rats: A Short Biography of Patna

by Amitava Kumar
Duke Univ. Apr. 2014. 144p. notes. index. ISBN 9780822357049. $19.95. TRAV
COPY ISBN
Covering the time span of July 2012 thru May 2013, filmmaker, journalist, novelist, and poet Kumar (Helen D. Lockwood Professor of English, Vassar Coll.) discusses his hometown of Patna, India, "in the belief that Patna would be of interest to anyone." When seen through the eyes of Kumar, the city is unique and common, familiar and strange, once glorious but now dying and decaying. The reader sees little glimpses of the city's people, places, history, literature, and gossip, as Kumar travels, talks, and remembers. If you are concerned or wondering about the rats mentioned in the title, fear not; in Patna they live in libraries and museums, carry off ladies' dentures, and are known to taste better than chicken!
VERDICT This new look at an ancient city transports readers on a fun journey. Lovers of travel writing, Indian history, and fans of literature will greatly enjoy this short book and wonder why Kumar did not write a slightly longer biography of Patna.
Reviewed by Melissa Aho, Univ. of Minnesota Bio-Medical Lib., Minneapolis , Feb 15, 2014
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

NONFICTION

The Church of Stop Shopping and Religious Activism: Combatting Consumerism and Climate Change Through Performance
by González, George
NONFICTION

Not My Type: Automating Sexual Racism in Online Dating
by Williams, Apryl
NONFICTION

When We Sold God’s Eye: Diamonds, Murder, and a Clash of Worlds in the Amazon
by Cuadros, Alex
NONFICTION

Blood and Lightning: On Becoming a Tattooer
by Kiskaddon, Dustin
REFERENCE

The Transgender Encyclopedia
by Pickett, Brent L.
NONFICTION

Southern by the Grace of God: Religion, Race, and Civil Rights in Hollywood’s American South
by Hunt, Megan
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?