Boman Desai Biography and latest books by Boman Desai

Boman Desai, who has authored novels like - The Memory of Elephants; Asylum, USA; Trio; A Woman Madly in Love; Servant, Master, Mistress -  was born in Bombay and shifted base to Chicago after he graduated. He did many small jobs like that of a farmhand, bartender, dishwasher, cook, secretary, musician, bookstore clerk, telephone operator, auditor and teacher before settling down to write.

About living such a life, Boman Desai has said in an interview: This experience has helped me not only in writing. Since I grew up in Bombay every job was done for me; but in the States, I was taking up jobs that were like servant jobs. This enabled me to see the other side of the picture closely. After this phase I learnt not to take as many things for granted.

Boman Desai\'s novels have varying settings and themes, ranging from Bombay, an America in Depression, and the musical genius of 19th century Germany. Occasionally, the protagonist is a young Parsi straddling the cultures of India and America, and the reader is forced to suspect a tinge of an autobiographical thread running in the stories.

Desai also maintains, “For me a good novel shows you how to live well – or the consequences of living badly. In that sense, I suppose I am out of sync with the modern sensibility.”