Interpreter Of Maladies: A Novel

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER - WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE - PEN/HEMINGWAY AWARD WINNER. With a new foreword by Domenico Starnone, this stunning debut collection flawlessly charts the emotional journeys of characters seeking love beyond the barriers of nations and generations.

With accomplished precision and gentle eloquence, Jhumpa Lahiri traces the crosscurrents set in motion when immigrants, expatriates, and their children arrive, quite literally, at a cultural divide.

A blackout forces a young Indian American couple to make confessions that unravel their tattered domestic peace. An Indian American girl recognizes her cultural identity during a Halloween celebration while the Pakastani civil war rages on television in the background. A latchkey kid with a single working mother finds affinity with a woman from Calcutta. In the title story, an interpreter guides an American family through the India of their ancestors and hears an astonishing confession.

Imbued with the sensual details of Indian culture, these stories speak with passion and wisdom to everyone who has ever felt like a foreigner. Like the interpreter of the title story, Lahiri translates between the strict traditions of her ancestors and a baffling new world.

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Published Oct 22, 2019

209 pages

Average rating: 7.87

159 RATINGS

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Sue Dix

Mar 14, 2026

10/10 stars

This is such a lovely book of short stories. The writing is gentle and elegant and poignant. I especially liked the last story. I believe I will read The Clothing of Books next. I really like Jhumpa Lahiri’s writing style.

Mary Pat Holt

Feb 05, 2026

8/10 stars

I usually never read short stories but this was excellent! And it's a Pulitzer prize winner! Some stories I liked more than others and some I definitely wanted to keep reading to see what would happen next. These are stories about the barriers between nations and generations as all the characters are seeking love. These stories travel from India to America, to India again, from London to America. Each person is filled with hope. Beautifully written, you will want to spend more than just a morning or afternoon with these characters.

WritesinLA

Oct 31, 2024

8/10 stars

This book caught my attention while browsing the bookstore. I took a chance on it, and was captivated. This is a short story collection about the lives and relationships among Indian emigres, and Lahiri's writing is clear, uncluttered, but evocative. Her ability to create characters who come alive even using almost sparing language is a huge part of her talent. I'll look forward to reading more of her work.

Kristen5678

Jul 06, 2024

10/10 stars

As a general rule, I hate short stories. I find them frustrating because just as I am getting into a plot, falling in love with a character (or getting a good hate going), it's over! Well, this was no exception. Each one of these short stories has the makings of its own novel that I would be happy to read.

Indian culture is so rich and beautiful, albeit sometimes harsh. Lahiri invites the reader to immerse themselves in the culture, not holding anything back. She touches on everything from the partition of India, to arranged marriages, to immigrants making lives for themselves in America. It was a beautiful read.

LucyCarrillo

Oct 26, 2023

8/10 stars

Short stories. Excellent. Indian American couples and families, navigating America, work, relationships. My favorite was the first story. It was also heartbreaking to read about the break up of a relationship. All of the characters in each story for fully developed, you drop into a slice of their lives, end it all felt very authentic.