This is a translation of one of the earliest novels written in Tamil. A family saga with lively characters and a fast-moving plot, it presents a valuable contemporary portrait of late nineteenth-century India.
Rumours are perhaps as old as humanity itself, because human brain is hardwired for storytelling. With modern allegiance to speed and advance in social media, the need for objective truth is decomposing. Everyone today is at the mercy of taps and clicks on the gadgets. Public shaming and cyber bullying have even led to suicides. Amid devastating rumours, Father Ramadhani turned to the Bible for solace. The result is these fourteen stories of how God and God’s people deal with rumours. Half is taken from the Old Testament, with the struggles of the Israelites, Moses, Hannah, Naaman, Jonah, Job, Tobit, and Sarah. The other half is from the New Testament, with the experiences of Paul, Zacchaeus, the soldiers, the sinful woman, the prodigal son, the disciples, John the Baptist, and Jesus. This final sequel in his ‘Trilogy of Redemption’ is a message of hope for those who have become helpless victims of rumours. It is also an invitation to conversion for those who are addicted to spreading rumours.
A dazzling, decades-spanning novel that features fictional characters and actual historical figures making their way through a labyrinth that connects WWII spycraft, the occultism of Aleister Crowley, the Jonestown massacre, pulp science fiction, Latin American revolutionaries, and new wave music.