"Such a Long Journey" Summary
By Rohinton Mistry
fiction | 424 pages | Published in NaN
It is Bombay in 1971, the year India went to war over what was to become Bangladesh. A hard-working bank clerk, Gustad Noble is a devoted family man who gradually sees his modest life unravelling. His young daughter falls ill; his promising son defies his father’s ambitions for him. He is the one reasonable voice amidst the ongoing dramas of his neighbours. One day, he receives a letter from an old friend, asking him to help in what at first seems like an heroic mission. But he soon finds himself unwittingly drawn into a dangerous network of deception. Compassionate, and rich in details of character and place, this unforgettable novel charts the journey of a moral heart in a turbulent world of change.
Estimated read time: 1 min read
One Sentence Summary
A man in 1971 Bombay grapples with family, politics, and personal turmoil.
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Such a Long Journey FAQ
What is 'such a long journey' about.
The novel 'Such a Long Journey' by Rohinton Mistry is set in Bombay in the early 1970s and follows the story of Gustad Noble, a bank clerk. The book explores themes of political turmoil, family dynamics, and personal growth.
Who is the author of 'Such a Long Journey'?
The author of 'Such a Long Journey' is Rohinton Mistry, an Indian-Canadian writer known for his insightful and emotionally resonant storytelling.
What are the major themes in 'Such a Long Journey'?
Some of the major themes in 'Such a Long Journey' include political unrest, friendship, loyalty, family relationships, and the impact of historical events on individuals.
Is 'Such a Long Journey' based on true events?
While 'Such a Long Journey' is a work of fiction, it is set against the backdrop of real historical events, providing a vivid portrayal of life in Bombay during a period of significant political and social change.
What is the writing style of 'Such a Long Journey'?
Rohinton Mistry's writing style in 'Such a Long Journey' is characterized by its richly detailed descriptions, nuanced character development, and a blend of humor and poignancy.
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Such a Long Journey Study Guide
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Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry
Such a long journey book summary.
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Such a Long Journey takes place in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in the year 1971.
The novel's protagonist is a hard-working bank clerk Gustad Noble, a member of the Parsi community and a devoted family man struggling to keep his wife Dilnavaz, and three children out of poverty. But his family begins to fall apart as his eldest son Sohrab refuses to attend the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology to which he has gained admittance and his youngest daughter, Roshan, falls ill.
Other conflicts within the novel involve Gustad's ongoing interactions with his eccentric neighbours and his relationship with his close friend and co-worker, Dinshawji. Tehmul, a seemingly unimportant and mentally disabled character, is essential in Gustad's life, as he brings out the tender side of him and represents the innocence of life.
A letter that Gustad receives one day from an old friend, Major Bilimoria, slowly draws him into a government deception involving threats, secrecy and large amounts of money. He then, begins the long journey, that sheds new light on all aspects of Gustad's personal and political life. The novel not only follows Gustad's life, but also India's political turmoil under the leadership of Indira Gandhi.
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Such a Long Journey - Chapter 22 Summary & Analysis
Chapter 22 Summary
Seeing the painted wall as he drives up tells Malcolm why Khodadad Building sounded familiar. The artist crumbles when he learns his work will be destroyed and is unable to summon the strength that earlier had allowed him cheerfully to move on when rousted. The neem tree in the compound must be removed. The marchers bound for the municipal office turn noisily into the lane, wearing their work clothes, bearing their work implements (allowed after a police attempt to forbid them carrying potential weapons), and voicing both clever chants and hackneyed slogans. The column halts before the wall and chants, "Will not do!"
Malcolm and his crew line up at the curb. All work ends in the neighborhood. A march leader declares they will stop at this sacred wall to pray for blessings on their future endeavors. Marchers queued up before favorite deities...
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Such a Long Journey
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Overview. Such a Long Journey, written by Canadian-Indian author Rohinton Mistry, follows Gustad Noble as he navigates interpersonal conflict and political scandal in early 1970s India. Indira Gandhi's corrupt government and India's war with Pakistan provide the story's political backdrop. Critics widely praised the novel's compassion ...
"A Long Journey" is a free verse poem by the Zimbabwean poet Musaemura Zimunya. Zimunya included "A Long Journey" in his book Country Dawns and City Lights, published in 1985—just five years after Zimbabwe attained independence from Britain.In "A Long Journey," a Zimbabwean speaker describes the effects of industrialization and the complex changes that their village undergoes during ...
This study guide contains the following sections: This detailed literature summary also contains Topics for Discussion and a Free Quiz on Such a Long Journey by Rohinton Mistry. Such a Long Journey examines the life of a handful of Parsi Indians in the turbulent early 1970's. When Britain withdraws from the subcontinent in 1948, two states are ...
Summary. Gustad Noble, the protagonist of Such a Long Journey, is a well-meaning man with a highly developed sense of duty. Lesser men might well have become embittered by the losses that his ...
"Such a Long Journey" Summary. By Rohinton Mistry. fiction | 424 pages | Published in NaN. fiction india historical fiction canada indian literature novels literary fiction literature asia cultural. It is Bombay in 1971, the year India went to war over what was to become Bangladesh. A hard-working bank clerk, Gustad Noble is a devoted family ...
Such a Long Journey. Such a Long Journey is a 1991 novel by Rohinton Mistry. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won several other awards. In 2010 the book made headlines when it was withdrawn from the University of Mumbai 's English syllabus after complaints from the Maharashtrian politician Aditya Thackeray.
O such a long long journey. In the first stanza of ' A Long Journey ,' the poet begins by describing the history of his town, like running rivers. His town's history is long and seemingly endless. The town/rivers also experienced "endless woes.". Their history continued on and on, and they suffered repetitively.
Mistry's first novel, Such a Long Journey (1991), brought him national and international recognition. Mistry's subsequent novels have achieved the same level of recognition as his first. His second novel, A Fine Balance (1995), concerns four people from Bombay who struggle with family and work against the backdrop of the political unrest in ...
for only $0.70/week. Subscribe. By Rohinton Mistry. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Such a Long Journey" by Rohinton Mistry. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Chapter 1 Summary. At 6 AM, Gustad Noble begins his prayers in the courtyard of the Khodadad Building apartment complex. Down the street, an unsanitary little man sells milk to a line of housewives. Nearing 60, Gustad is tall and broad shouldered, the envy of sicklier relatives and friends. A slight limp betrays an accident Gustad suffered ...
Such a Long Journey Book Summary. Such a Long Journey takes place in Mumbai, Maharashtra, in the year 1971. The novel's protagonist is a hard-working bank clerk Gustad Noble, a member of the Parsi community and a devoted family man struggling to keep his wife Dilnavaz, and three children out of poverty. But his family begins to fall apart as ...
Such a Long Journey - Chapter 22 Summary & Analysis Rohinton Mistry This Study Guide consists of approximately 65 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Such a Long Journey.
Such a Long Journey is one of the important works by Mistry which explore the various aspects of India like culture, community, administration, society, life, and faith of the Parsi community. Mistry, re-portrays the historical backdrop of this group and nation as it has been in the post-independence period. This paper attempts to analyze the ...
Such a Long Journey takes place in Bombay, India, in 1971. The story begins with the main character, Gustad Noble, a Zoroastrian Parsi, performing his daily early morning prayers in the yard of his apartment complex, the Khodadad Building, as the compound slowly comes to life around him. Gustad is in his 50s but still strong and vital despite an accident a few years earlier that gave him a limp.
Historical Context of Journey. "Journey" is written within the context of Māori resistance to white New Zealanders' ongoing colonization of Māori land. Beginning in the early 1800s, Māori people, who had been living on the islands of Aotearoa (or New Zealand) for centuries, experienced a dramatic increase in the number of Europeans ...
Learn More. "Journey of the Magi" is a poem by T.S. Eliot, first published in 1927 in a series of pamphlets related to Christmas. The poem was written shortly after Eliot's conversion to the Anglican faith. Accordingly, though the poem is an allegorical dramatic monologue that inhabits the voice of one the magi (the three wise men who visit the ...
for only $0.70/week. Subscribe. By Rohinton Mistry. Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Such a Long Journey" by Rohinton Mistry. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Long Day's Journey into Night Summary. It is morning in the Tyrones' summer home when the play begins. James Tyrone —an aging matinee star—is spending time with his wife, Mary, who has recently returned from a sanatorium. James expresses his happiness at Mary being back and encourages her to "keep up the good work.".
Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Study Guide of "Such a Long Journey" by Rohinton Mistry. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary. Analysis. The narrator prepares for his trip into the city to meet officials about his land. He thinks of himself as "an old man going on a journey," though he notes that he is only 71, not really an old man. His family buttons up his coat for him and gives him money, making him feel more like an old man than he wants.
So Long a Letter begins when Ramatoulaye, a Senegalese woman living in Dakar, the country's capital, decides to write a letter to her old friend Aissatou, who lives in America.The letter is occasioned by the sudden death of Modou, Ramatoulaye's estranged husband.In keeping with Muslim custom, Ramatoulaye must observe a mirasse, a forty-day period of isolation and mourning.
Summary. Analysis. Despite feeling intense guilt over the part he has played in the "pollution of an honest home," David cannot bring himself to condemn Steerforth. In fact, he loves him more than ever and cannot stop thinking of all his good qualities. He realizes, however, that their friendship is over once and for all.