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Strangely Beloved:Writings on Calcutta
Calcuttas wealth is not in ancient monuments, medieval courtrooms or modern skyscrapers. It is in its stories. Perhaps no city in India has inspired the responses of love and disgust as sharply as Calcutta, now Kolkata, where the old and the new, the beautiful and the squalid coexist side by side. Once a global city second only to London, it has often been written off as a dying city. But despite - perhaps because of - all its problems, Calcuttans love the city with the illogical passion of true love. In his 1971 book on the city, Geoffrey Moor house wondered why Calcutta is so strangely beloved. This collection of writings brings out the essence of the attractions this city has to offer - its food, music, theatre, art, politics - by weaving together history and personal experience, social commentary and political critique. Sharing the experiences of renowned writers and poets, academics and historians, who have all loved the life of this city, Strangely Beloved provides a rare and heart-warming glimpse into the heart, mind and soul of one of the greatest cities in the world. Interesting Facts Thoughtfully compiled and divided into thematic sections for easy reference, Strangely Beloved is the first comprehensive collection of writings about Calcutta, bringing together writings by academics and historians as well as literary stalwarts like Sunil Gangopadhyay. Strangely Beloved touches upon a diverse range of subjects - from the convergence of tradition and modernity in the city to the passion Calcuttans share for music, theatre and food from the citys controversial economic policies to anecdotes about growing up in the city - providing an accurate appraisal of the unique spirit of the city. In Strangely Beloved, rare, archival photographs of Calcutta are combined with modern street photography to give readers an experience that is as much visual as it is literary. Beautifully designed for the contemporary reader, this book is a collectors edition that will delight all lovers of good writing, whether theyre from Calcutta or otherwise.