Tarun J. Tejpal, publisher and editor-in-chief of Tehelka, is a leading name in Indian journalism. In his debut novel, The Alchemy Of Desire, Tejpal explores the dichotomy of love and sexual desire in a story that is well known for the intensity of emotions portrayed.

It follows the story of a young, married couple, who are completely obsessed with each other, and even more so with sex. The husband, a struggling writer, works continuously on his breakthrough novel, stopping only to appease the burning passion of his wife. They buy a forsaken cottage on the foothills of Himalayas hoping to restore it and make it the symbol of their desire.

During the repairs, the husband stumbles upon the diaries of the previous owner, a glamorous American woman by the name of Catherine, and is immediately drawn to the story of her life. The memoirs of her passionate love affair awaken his insides to a new world and its impact on his relationship with his wife is both profound and palpable.

The Alchemy Of Desire has been translated into a number of major languages and was internationally hailed as a significant literary achievement for Indian writing in English. It was shortlisted for France’s Prix Femina and won the prestigious Le Prix Mille Pages award.

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