On the Road to Tarascon

Author: Arnab Nandy
Publisher: Olive Turtle, an imprint of
Niyogi Books
(Pp 208, ISBN 978-93-86906-15-1, Rs 350)

Painting number #395, better known as Van Gogh’s masterpiece ‘The painter on the road to Tarascon’(1888), was believed to be destroyed in a fire in 1945 during World War 2. What if the painting was actually not destroyed? This book is a historical fiction revolving around this famous painting of all times. Though it is a work of fiction, it is cleverly woven with tidbits of historical data. Set in the backdrop of Kolkata, the book gives a sense of thriller. The author has beautifully woven past with present. Readers do not feel lost in this transition; they will actually appreciate the chronotope.

The story is intense, the language lucid and the characters interesting. One just can’t wait to reach the end to find who gets the painting and whether or not it actually existed. The book will be liked by all those who are either interested in art or historical fiction.
– Varsha Verma