A Dead Hand: A Crime in Calcutta
Theroux's latest novel galvanized critics, who found very little middle ground. Detractors pointed to a rickety plot, inexplicably abandoned subplots, flat secondary characters, repetitious imagery, narrative inconsistencies, and tediously long-winded descriptions of Tantric sex. Admirers, by contrast, praised Theroux's richly drawn main characters, graceful prose, and macabre humor. Reviewers also had mixed reactions to his insertion of himself as a character into the story--comic, clever, or clumsy? All agreed, however, that the novel's best feature was its vivid evocation of India, "brought brilliantly, blazingly to life" (Washington Post). A Dead Hand, it would seem, is classic Theroux: loyal fans will enjoy it, but those unfamiliar with his writing should start somewhere else.--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.