Rajesh teaches high school science and hopes to impress a new Western-educated English teacher with his presentation about an upcoming eclipse of the sun. The story is told from the points of view of Rajesh (who we soon realize has something of the narrator of "Remains of the Day" about him) and his wife Shumila.

The is the second Phil Whitaker novel I have read and I enjoyed it very much, although it was harder-going than "Sister Sebastian's Library". It evoked the city of Nandrapur clearly and aroused sympathy for both the deluded Rajesh and Shumila, who loves him more than he perhaps deserves. I also enjoyed the character of Dr Mukerjee: the fact that he sends Rajesh a bill at the end was a great touch. The suggestions that religion may have more of an influence than Rajesh is willing to allow were gently done. ( )