In Arundhati Roy's powerful new novel it is 1996 and Tilo is on a houseboat in war torn Kashmir when she is woken suddenly and a primordial punishment is called down. Indira Varma is the reader.

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness is the acclaimed writer Arundhati Roy's first novel since her 1997 award winning debut, The God of Small Things. Twenty years in the writing her new novel takes listeners on a powerful journey which starts in Old Delhi before moving to the conflict in Kashmir in 1996, and then returning to Delhi and more recent times. In Srinigar, Kashmir, the lives of Musa and Tilo are tested and the corrupting nature of power is brought into stark relief as the two set out to endure through the darkest of times sustained by hope and love.

For more about the celebrated writer visit the Book at Bedtime pages at the Radio 4 website where you can find links to new features and archive programmes about Arundhati Roy's life and work. While you're there, if you've missed an episode or you want to listen ahead you can find out how to download all fifteen episodes.

The abridger is Richard Hamilton
The producer is Elizabeth Allard. Show less