Finding the Raga

WINNER OF THE JAMES TAIT BLACK PRIZE
'A splendid book.' Literary Review
'A modern masterpiece.' New York Journal of Books
Finding the Raga is Amit Chaudhuri's revelatory exploration of North Indian classical music: an ancient, evolving tradition whose principles and practises will alter the reader's notion of what music might - and can - be.
Through essay, memoir and cultural study, Chaudhuri dwells on the music's most distinctive and mysterious characteristics, resulting in a gift of a book for musicians and music lovers, and for any creative mind in search of diverse and transforming inspiration.
'Supple, intricate and uncompromising, full of delicate observation and insight.' -Geoff Dyer
'[A] compelling meditation on Indian and Western art-making.' The New Yorker

Amit Chaudhuri is the award-winning author of seven novels, including Friend of My Youth, as well as three books of essays, two of poems, and a collection of short stories. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. He is a recorded performer in the Indian classical vocal tradition, a composer of experimental works, and was once a guitarist and songwriter in the American folk music style. Chaudhuri has performed at the Vortex, the London Jazz Festival, and Queen Elizabeth Hall and has given lecture-performances on his music at Columbia and Duke University. He is regularly featured on the radio and his version of 'Summertime' was featured on the BBC 4 documentary, Gershwin's Summertime: the Song that Conquered the World.