Night Theatre

In a run-down clinic at the outskirts of a rural Indian village, a once-successful surgeon is bringing what remains of his career to an unassuming end. Saheb, as the villagers respectfully call him, tries to do his job decently, despite lack of facilities, a sorely limited budget, stifling bureaucracy and institutionalised corruption. As for assistance, he must make do with an untrained pharmacist and her handyman husband. But he is soon to face his biggest challenge yet. One night, a young family – father, pregnant mother and infant son – present themselves at the clinic, suffering from horrific injuries inflicted by a band of bandits. It was a savage attack and no one could possibly survive the wounds they show the doctor. In fact, the would-be patients are dead, allowed to return to Earth by a friendly official of the afterlife. There’s one problem though – at dawn, blood will once again course through their veins. In the course of one long night, the doctor must successfully complete three complex surgeries, not to save the living, but to resurrect the dead.

The dead tend to haunt ghost stories and horror fiction. Vikram Paralkar’s Night Theatre (originally published in India as The Wounds of the Dead) is neither of the two. Its horrors, if any, lie in the detailed surgical descriptions (Paralkar is a hematologist-oncologist and, presumably, speaks from experience) and in the quasi-existential sense of futility instilled by the evident moral failure of society. If pressed to classify the novel, I would describe it as a work of magical realism. Indeed, despite its fantastical premise, it feels strangely plausible, its plot driven forward by an inherent logic. By a happy irony, Paralkar manages to use a surreal tale as a vehicle social critique. At the same time, the otherworldly elements provide a springboard for ruminations about death and the meaning of life.

I must say that the book’s blurb intrigued me, but little did I expect to discover a little literary gem. By turns tragic, darkly comic and ultimately moving, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and can’t recommend it enough.

A beautifully crafted fable. Night Theatre takes the reader through one night with the surgeon of a remote village clinic in India, as a family of 3 arrive fatally wounded at his clinic.

According to the ‘angel’ who has spoken to them, this surgeon is the one who must repair their wounds before dawn if they are to live again. They breathe, but have no pain, and do not bleed. Can the surgeon save them and their unborn child?

Partly fable, partly ghost story, this short and clever tale covers religion, reincarnation, power, and the imagery of darkness and light. Eloquently written; I shall remember this read.

For a story that is heavily steeped in mysticism and belief, this was one of the most realistic depictions of medical practitioners I've ever seen: exhausted, burnt out, full of self doubt, at the end of their tether... and yet still continuing to assist those in need.  

The story was intriguing and engrossing. I couldn't put it down.

This is a beautifully written book with more depth than is perhaps apparent at first site.

The surgeon is a general Doctor in a small rural village in India. He is over qualified for this position but generally does his best for the people. He often puts his own money forward to pay for supplies which have have disappeared into the ether of corruption and palm greasing that appears common. One night he is visited by an extraordinary family; a man, his pregnant wife and their son. Their story seems incredible and their need for help obvious and urgent. We follow the surgeon, his pharmacist and this family through this unbelievable night.

On the surface this seems to be almost a fairy tale. I can’t give too much description as I don’t want to give away spoilers. Suffice to say the family and their wounds are not all that they seem and they have not travelled to the surgeon via normal means.

However there is much more depth to this book. We learn about the surgeon and why he is working in this village. How does he feel about his work and the corruption which abounds in the bureaucracy of the medical service? We learn about his beliefs and ambitions. We alsoread about the pharmacist and her husband who are more religious than the surgeon but battle their own pain of childlessness. Then there is the family. How exactly did they get here? Are their stories of death and the after life true and what does it mean for the beliefs of the characters?

This is a really beautifully written book with elegant prose. I will warn you that there is considerable detail concerning the surgery which some readers may not like. This intricate detail can be found throughout the book from the movement of cockroaches to the cracks on the tiles. I found that this intricate detail was a vital part of the book and understanding the surgeon.

There are lots of elements in this book. This is a ghost story but not a traditional English gothic style ghost story. It is also a book about searching inside yourself and discovering who you are and what you want. Definitely a thought provoking book.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.