At the Hatchard's

London: Since last Friday till today morning I had been in a series of meetings. I also took time out to meet up with few of the London-based families and others known to me. I met Sangeeta Bahadur, director of Nehru Centre in London. She would be coming to Kolkata on the October 5, 2012, as a guest for the next round of Author's Afternoon series.

On Saturday also went to Hatchards book shop in Piccadilly which was established in 1797 and is one of the famous and oldest surviving book stores in Europe. While browsing and picking up few books, I saw a special shelf with the books of those six authors who have been shortlisted for 2012 Man Booker Prize. And there was Jeet Thiyal's debut novel Narcopolis.

The winner of the 2012 prize would be announced at a dinner at London's Guildhall on October 16, 2012, in a ceremony that would be covered by BBC. Each of the six shortlisted authors have been awarded 2500 pounds and a specially commissioned beautifully handbound edition of his / her book. The winner would receive a further 50,000 pounds.

Jeet was the second guest in our Author's Afternoon series initiated by us in Kolkata. I inquired about how the book was faring. The salesman checked his computer and said, “We kept it around 12 noon today and four copies have been sold in two hours. It is good going.” Congratulations Jeet!

ess bee