Mr Iyer Goes to War

An inventive, ambitious interpretation of Don Quixote for our times, Mr Iyer Goes To War is a playful, profound adventure heralding a bold new voice in Indian fictionDispatched to a home in the sacred city of Varanasi, Lalgudi Iyer spends his days immersed in scripture. When an accident leaves him with concussion, he receives a vision of his past incarnation - he was the mythological warrior Bhima, sent from the heavens to destroy evil. Convinced of his need to continue Bhima's mission and revive the noble principles of the Mahabharata, Iyer embarks on an epic adventure down the sacred Ganges with the help of his trust companion Bencho, the undertaker. His attempts at restoring order to the world - and winning the heart of the half-beautiful but oblivious widow Damayanti - are hampered only by his complete detachment from the reality of contemporary India. Mr Iyer Goes to War introduces a bold, witty new voice of Indian fiction in this playful and profound tale of love, adventure and friendship.

A clever reworking of Don Quixote ... Much haphazard hilarity ... Weaves a nifty path between mayhem and genuine emotion. A satisfying and touching ending, By reimagining the story of the errant knight Don Quixote in contemporary India, Ryan Lobo has created a touching, hilarious and insightful meditation on the ills of contemporary society, A wicked, scuttling jaunt of a book filled with unforgettable characters ... Utterly bonkers, A compelling, humane story … Filled with witty characters, easy humour, insightful quotes and most importantly, with a protagonist who’s like a classic Shakespearean fool – wisest of all ... A delightful read. Unputdownable, An audacious Cervantes-inspired romp across a nation that might just be in need of a concussed hero

Ryan Lobo is an award-winning photographer and filmmaker based in Bangalore. Publications in which his writing has featured include the Boston Review, National Geographic, Caravan, Bidoun Magazine and the Wall Street Journal. Mr Iyer Goes to War is his first novel. ryanlobo.net