Booker Prize Winner

The God of Small Things

by Arundhati Roy

Summary

Set in Kerala, India, the novel follows fraternal twins Rahel and Estha as they navigate a childhood marked by family tragedy and the rigid social codes governing caste and love. Roy's lyrical, nonlinear prose moves fluidly between the twins' shared past and fractured adult lives, weaving political and personal histories into a single tapestry. Its sensuous language and structural daring helped redefine contemporary Indian writing in English.

Historical Context & Significance

Roy was a debut author when she won; the book became a massive global phenomenon.