Keywords Born in 1952 Writers, Fiction

Bombay is also the setting of Mistry's first novel, Such a Long Journey (1991). Here, however, the social conditions that provided a distant backdrop to the short stories now bear upon a particular Bombay family. The protagonist, Gustad Noble, finds his life unravelling as his son rejects filial piety, his best friend involves him in political intrigue, and his own rationality and morality confront a world in change. The novel won the GOVERNOR GENERAL'S AWARD, the Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book, and the W.H. Smith Books in Canada First Novel Award; it was also shortlisted for Britain's prestigious Booker Prize. A film version of Such a Long Journey was released in 1998.

In Mistry's second novel, A Fine Balance, the abuses of political power threaten to destroy the dignity of the individual. Set against the Emergency Measures imposed by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the mid-1970s, the novel is a powerful and painful examination of a humanity beset by social and political repression. A Fine Balance met with high critical acclaim and won many international honours, including nominations for the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and the Booker Prize. It won the GILLER PRIZE and the Commonwealth Writer's Award. Multitudes of readers across North America were introduced to Mistry's work when A Fine Balance became the first Canadian novel to be promoted through Oprah Winfrey's Book Club.

Family Matters was published in 2002 and won the Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize, amongst many other honours. The story is set, again, in Bombay and focuses on the past and present life of a retired professor, Nariman Vakeel, and his difficult, complicated familial relationships. Like Mistry's other works, the novel has been praised by reviewers for both its intimate portrayals of individuals and its universal, sweeping themes and concerns. Mistry consistently demonstrates in his fiction that he is a writer who is able to produce both the sharply focused close-ups and broad landscapes of humanity.

Mistry, Rohinton
The most vulnerable members of society are the people of Mistry's fictional universe, and theirs is the unending struggle (photo by F. Mistry).

Author DAVID STAINES Rev: KAREN GRANDY

Links to Other Sites
Rohinton Mistry on A Fine Balance - CBC Archives
Award-winning Indian-born author describes the inspiration for his latest book in this 2008 CBC Radio program clip.

Guide to Canadian Literary Papers at York University Archives
This website offers online biographies of prominent Canadian writers and a guide to related archives maintained by York University Archives and Special Collections. Click on the menu on the left side of the screen for information about specific authors.

Rohinton Mistry
A 2002 author profile of Rohinton Mistry from the magazine Quill & Quire.

A Fine Balance
Check out reading group discussion questions for Rohinton Mistry's "A Fine Balance" from Oprah's Book Club website.