 First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Hari Kunzru |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Genre | Historical novel |
| Published | 2002 |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton (UK) E. P. Dutton (US) |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
The Impressionist is Hari Kunzru's debut novel, first published in 2003. Kunzru received the Betty Trask Award and the Somerset Maugham Award for the book's publication.[ citation needed ]
The novel concerns Pran Nath (known throughout the book by several other names), the child of a one-time affair between an English father and an Indian mother, and his life from birth to roughly the age of twenty-two, as he travels from India to England to Africa while colonialism begins to come to a close. As the narrative evolves, Pran takes on different personalities—some given to him by others, some willingly picked up to his advantage—as he seeks a permanent identity. [1]
The book was well received by critics, with praise for its prose. Kunzru's characterization of Pran was, however, faulted, with some considering him a "hollow" character. [2] The Daily Telegraph reported on reviews from several publications with a rating scale for the novel out of "Love It", "Pretty Good", "Ok", and "Rubbish": Daily Telegraph , Times , Sunday Telegraph , Literary Review , and TLS reviews under "Pretty Good" and Guardian , Independent , Observer , Sunday Times , and New Statesman reviews under "Ok". [3]
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