The fatal rumour

This is a translation of one of the earliest novels in Tamil, written by B.R.

Rajam Aiyar (1872-1898). A family saga with lively characters and a fast-moving plot, it presents a valuable portrait of late 19th-century India and has a rich vein of satire and irony running through it.

Blackburn's translation also provides a thoughtful, informative afterword and has a section with notes and glossary to aid readers in their understanding of the book.