Summary: Jeet Thayil is an accomplished poet, musician and journalist and his debut novel Narcopolis has recently been announced on the Man Booker longlist. It's an examination of intoxication, a history of a Bombay rarely seen in popular culture. Focused on an Opium Den on Shuklaji St, it weaves in and out of the lives of people who are in many ways defined by that space and its drugs. Course and vicious and philosophical and lyrical it's a book rich with symbolism and stunningly written. Sky had a chance to chat with Jeet about the freedom of addiction, the sad transformation of Bombay and the other potential title for the book "St Dimple". Originally broadcast on The Book Club on 06/09/2012, Narcopolis is out now through Allen & Unwin.
