American English, August

Given all the worldwide buzz about Indians Who Write In English, it came as a surprise to learn that Upamanyu Chatterjee's English, August has never been published in the US. Well, the exemplary publishing arm of the New York Review of Books has decided to rectify this with an edition that's to be released this spring. Better late than never, one supposes. A blurb by Gary Shtyengart (author of the loopy, addictive The Russian Debutante's Handbook) says: "Comparing Upamanyu Chatterjee with any other comic novelist is like comparing a big fat cigar with a menthol cigarette." Pity you can't say that about Chatterjee's later work, especially the overrated Weight Loss.