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'I Don't Pretend To Be An Indian'

The world's latest literary sensation, Hari Kunzru, 32, on his book <i >The Impressionist</i>, and the record advance for it.

Sheela Reddy

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The world's latest literary sensation is Hari Kunzru, 32, former Associate Editor of UK magazine Wired and freelance journalist on technology, electronic music and art. His debut novel, The Impressionist, is hogging world-wide headlines for the record advance he was paid by his four publishers. Excerpts from an interview with Sheela Reddy:
Is your novel—about a half-English man who struggles to invent and reinvent himself—autobiographical?
Are you too, like your protagonist, semi-Indian?
Was India an important part of your life when you were growing up?
Do you speak any Indian language?
Mashaal
Amar Akbar Anthony
Race and identity are very much a part of your book. Have these issues affected you personally?
Why did you pick an Indian theme for your first novel? Is it because Indian writing has become the flavour of the season in the West, and is considered a fashionably exotic subject to write about?
You benefited very dramatically from the trend: you bagged the world's highest advance ever paid to a writer.How much was it?
Why are you keen that your book be launched first in India?
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