Plot Summary

Baumgartner's Bombay

Anita Desai
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Baumgartner's Bombay

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1988

Book Brief

Anita Desai

Baumgartner's Bombay

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1988
Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Bombay, India • 1940s

Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Baumgartner's Bombay by Anita Desai tells the story of Hugo Baumgartner, a German Jew who escapes the Holocaust and settles in Bombay. The narrative follows Hugo's life, marked by suffering, exclusion, and alienation, as he navigates through various cities like Berlin, Venice, Calcutta, and finally Bombay, where he ultimately faces a tragic demise. Sensitive topics include portrayals of the Holocaust and racial discrimination.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Mysterious

Nostalgic

Reviews & Readership

3.5

956 ratings

51%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Anita Desai's Baumgartner's Bombay masterfully conveys complex themes of displacement and identity through its poignant narrative. While its intricate prose is praised for depth and emotion, some reviewers find its slow pacing challenging. The novel stands out for its vivid characterization and evocative portrayal of post-colonial India.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Baumgartner's Bombay?

Readers who appreciate introspective, character-driven narratives with historical contexts will enjoy Baumgartner's Bombay by Anita Desai. Fans of novels like A Passage to India by E.M. Forster and The Shadow Lines by Amitav Ghosh, which explore identity and displacement, will find this book compelling.

3.5

956 ratings

51%

Loved it

37%

Mixed feelings

13%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

240

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Bombay, India • 1940s

Publication Year

1988

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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