Fri Nov 21 00:40:00 UTC 2025: Summary:
The article reviews Megha Majumdar’s new novel, “A Guardian and a Thief,” set in a future Kolkata ravaged by climate change. The story follows two families from opposite ends of the social spectrum. One family is preparing to leave for America on climate visas, while the other struggles to survive in the increasingly harsh conditions. The novel explores themes of morality, survival, and the human condition under extreme pressure, questioning the lengths people will go to for their loved ones. The review praises Majumdar’s portrayal of the struggling family but notes a slight weakness in her depiction of the poorer family’s village experiences. The reviewer also expresses hope that Majumdar will explore the immigrant experience in future works.
News Article:
Kolkata, India – November 21, 2025 – Megha Majumdar’s new novel, “A Guardian and a Thief,” paints a chilling portrait of Kolkata’s future, where climate change has brought extreme heat, floods, and widespread hunger. The novel, a National Book Award finalist and Oprah Book Club pick, follows two families – one preparing to escape to America on climate visas, and the other desperately clinging to survival amidst the environmental disaster.
Majumdar’s narrative delves into the moral dilemmas faced by ordinary people under extraordinary pressure. “A Guardian and a Thief” probes the limits of human compassion and the lengths to which people will go to protect their families in the face of scarcity and despair.
Reviewers praise Majumdar’s vivid depiction of a city on the brink, her exploration of moral ambiguity, and her incisive commentary on class divisions exacerbated by climate catastrophe. While some critics point to minor shortcomings in the portrayal of rural life, the novel is largely celebrated for its powerful and timely exploration of the human cost of environmental crisis.
With global warming intensifying, “A Guardian and a Thief” is a stark reminder of the potential consequences of inaction and a poignant reflection on the resilience of the human spirit.
First Piper 