The Thing about Thugs
The Thing about Thugs by Tabish Khair is a First Edition novel published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt in 2012, consisting of 244 pages. This work presents the misadventures of a young Indian man, Amir Ali, as he navigates the complexities of Victorian London amidst a backdrop of murder and intrigue. Captured by Captain William T. Meadows for phrenological research, Ali’s journey from a small Bihari village to the bustling streets of London reveals a tale of deception and survival.
Readers will find a narrative that intertwines elements of mystery and historical fiction, as Amir Ali grapples with his identity while being pursued by suspicion in a city rife with danger. The story explores themes of immigration and cultural clash, featuring a cast of fellow immigrants, including a resourceful Punjabi woman, who aid Ali in his quest to uncover the truth behind the gruesome murders plaguing the underclass. With its imaginative setting, The Thing about Thugs invites exploration of the darker sides of society and the human experience.
Official synopsis Publisher
A subversive, macabre novel of a young Indian man s misadventures in Victorian London as the city is racked by a series of murders
In a small Bihari village, Captain William T. Meadows finds just the man to further his phrenological research back home: Amir Ali, confessed member of the infamous Thugee cult. With tales of a murderous youth redeemed, Ali gains passage to England, his villainously shaped skull there to be studied. Only Ali knows just how embroidered his story is, so when a killer begins depriving London s underclass of their heads, suspicion naturally falls on the thug. With help from fellow immigrants led by a shrewd Punjabi woman, Ali journeys deep into a hostile city in an attempt to save himself and end the gruesome murders.
Ranging from skull-lined mansions to underground tunnels a ghostly people call home, The Thing about Thugs is a feat of imagination to rival Wilkie Collins or Michael Chabon. Short-listed for the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize, this sly Victorian role reversal marks the arrival of a compelling new Indian novelist to North America.
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