Product Description

In 1987 Frater was able to realize his dream of witnessing firsthand the most dramatic of meteorological events: the Indian monsoon. He followed it from its "burst" on the beaches of Trivandrum, through Delhi, Calcutta and across Bangladesh. The result is an illumination of the towering influence of nature over the lives and culture of India and her people.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1347072 in Books
• Published on: 1992-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 273 pages

About the Author
Alexander Frater has contributed to various UK publications and, as chief travel correspondent of the Observer, he won an unprecedented number of British Press Travel Awards as well as a Travelex Travel Writer's Award. Two of his books, Beyond the Blue Horizon and Chasing the Monsoon, have been made into major BBC television films. His most recent book is Tales from the Torrid Zone. He lives in London.

Customer Reviews

An Affectionate & Witty View of Human Nature
A wonderfully droll and lively account of a deeply personal adventure to realize a singularly unique obsession. I loved it. Anyone who has ever experienced the collective madness and loopy high spirits that overtakes people who are about to contend with an overwhelming natural event in their lives (ie: approaching blizzard), especially one that isn't likely to kill them or be destroy their lives (ie: hurricane or earthquake), can appreciate this book and the wonderful characters brought so warmly to light.. Is there a people anywhere that isn't obsessed with weather? I think not. Is there any other weather system of so fundemaentally benign an aspect as the monsoon? I think not. Is there one that affects so many people on such a huge scale? I think not. Isn't there room for a great book here? I think so, and this is it. My compliments to Mr. Frater.

Depicting the subcontinent is no breeze!
Few books on India can easily hope to undertake and accomplish the monumental task of depicting this complex society. This book is no exception. By taking the lens of the monsoon -- and the beliefs and practices which surround it in India - this book has adopted a wonderful device to depict a wide swathe of this country. Entertaining and thoughtful, this is certainly one of the more informative travelogues on India.

Outstanding for it's simplicity and style; top of the picks
Frater's style takes just the reader with him and shares the experience, ideas and emotions on a personal level. The concept of chasing water is unique enough but his style of writing is like a personal letter. I could smell the rain before it fell, I felt drenched, could smell the spices, feel crammed in buses, felt scared in the 'plane, was elated at the climax. Alexander Frater conveys images in such an open, frank manner that I believe him. He's like a traveller reporting in letters of experiences, sights and smells. I felt I knew him and wanted to know more of how he thought. This is a writer of such simplicity without any artifice that I want to be more a part of his world through his writings. Definitely a "must read" of travel books!