Abroad in India

Mary A. Hecht blends fiction, travelogue, and memoir in this evocative portrait of India and its many cultures.

Hecht first explored India in 1963, reluctantly going only to satisfy her father's wishes. She is forever grateful for the opportunity he gave her. This introduction to the beautiful country enchanted her, and she has spent years recording her own experiences and writing short stories based on the people she met.

Hecht's short stories capture the vivid atmosphere of India. In the first, a man lands a new job as a driver for foreigners in the country. As he grows apprehensive about an arranged marriage, he tries to find interesting things to show his passengers. The following stories encompass the perspectives of locals and foreigners, men and women, the young and the old.

While Hecht shows the joy and excitement of a newly independent country, she doesn't shy away from its troubles. Many of her characters confront the poverty and disease, the caste system, and other difficult facets of this bustling country.

Hecht immerses readers in the language and culture of India, even including a glossary of Hindu words for anyone eager to learn more about the setting of this poignant work.