After a decade hiatus, Anita Desai returns with ‘Rosarita’, a tale of memory, identity

New Delhi: Anita Desai, renowned Indian author known for her powerful storytelling, is releasing a new novella titled ‘Rosarita’ after more than ten years. Published by Pan Macmillan India, the book will be available starting July 7.

"The fullness, detail, profundity and pertinence of this 96-page novella leaves no doubt that it is the creation of a virtuoso. Rich and consummate, like a great work of art Rosarita too offers a little more of itself every time we interact with its pages afresh. Anita Desai has once again given us a book for the ages," said Teesta Guha Sarkar, editorial director at Pan Macmillan.

‘Rosarita’ explores themes of memory, sorrow, and loneliness, delving deep into the connections between people and the impact of their personal histories. The story follows Bonita, a young student from India who travels to San Miguel, Mexico to learn Spanish. There, she encounters a woman who insists Bonita resembles her mother, who allegedly journeyed from India to Mexico as a young artist.

Bonita denies her mother's artistic talents and her supposed journey to Mexico, but the woman's persistence leads Bonita on a journey where the past and present collide, challenging her understanding of herself and her family.

"Into a story where Bonita and her mother will move apart and come together, as the past threatens to flood the present, or, perhaps, even rewrite it," says the description of the book.

Anita Desai, celebrated for her novels such as ‘Fire On The Mountain’, ‘Cry The Peacock’, and ‘In Custody’ (which was adapted into a film), is a highly respected figure in Indian literature. The 86-year-old author has received numerous awards throughout her distinguished career, including the prestigious Padma Bhushan and Sahitya Akademi Award.

Having been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times in the 1980s, Anita Desai also has a notable academic background, having taught at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where she is now an Emerita Professor.

PTI