Chowringhee

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Set in 1950s Calcutta, this sprawling saga explores the intimate lives of managers, employees, and guests at the Shahjahan hotel. Shankar, the newest recruit, recounts the stories of various individuals whose lives intersect within the hotel’s suites, restaurants, and backrooms. As both observer and participant, he reveals the layers of everyday existence, exposing unfulfilled desires, broken dreams, and unbidden tragedy. The narrative unfolds not only as a tale of individual lives but also as a chronicle of a vibrant metropolis. Written by best-selling Bengali author Sankar and published in 1962, this novel predates Arthur Hailey’s "Hotel" by three years and quickly became a hit, inspiring translations, a film, and a play. Its larger-than-life characters—such as the enigmatic manager Marco Polo and the tragic hostess Karabi Guha—attained cult status. With its thinly veiled accounts of real-life celebrities and a narrative that seamlessly weaves past and present, it established itself as a popular classic. Available for the first time in English, this work serves as both a dirge and a homage to the city and its people.