Book review: John Lanchester, The Wall: A Novel
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1177/00195561211072354 |
| Author | Samar Nanda |
| Subject Matter | Book Reviews |
Book Reviews 133
forward the same argument in favour of these three Acts. But the viewpoint of
Government of India is different from Varun Gandhi who observes that ‘Rural
India’s economic health requires an increase in social investment, with a particu-
lar focus on agriculture, education and malnutrition’ (p. 753) and further sug-
gests ‘alternative models of rural development as it is found in Mexico and Spain’
(pp. 776–777).
To critically evaluate the book, it can be said that the book does not follow
the methodological rigour of a ‘research work’. The book does not claim it to
be so. This is a scholarly journalistic popular book serving the need of the hour.
One point which cannot be overlooked is that only two chapters (1 & 2) contain
Appendix at the end while other chapters do not do so. Second, year-wise data
varies from table to table. This is incoherent.
In spite of these shortcomings, the book, A Rural Manifesto, is really a
‘grand narrative’ of India’s rural society to be reformed or to be revolutionised.
It is a worthy collection for any university or college library. This book is an
essential reading for administrators and policymakers of the country to
understand the Indian villages.
References
Rudolph, L.I., & Rudolph, S.H. (1987). In pursuit of Lakshmi: The political economy of the
Indian state. University of Chicago Press.
Varlamov, K. (1977). Socialist management: The Leninist concept. Progress Publishers.
Panchanan Chattopadhyay
Retired Professor and Head,
Department of Political Science and Professor-in-Charge (Dean),
School of Social Science,
Assam University, Diphu Campus,
Karbi Anglong, Assam, India
pc.diphu@yahoo.co.in
John Lanchester, The Wall: A Novel. New York: W. W. Norton
& Company, 2019, 288 pp., `1,352.93 (Hardcover), ISBN: 978-
1324001638.
DOI: 10.1177/00195561211072354
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