Synopses & Reviews
Indian Balm is the captivating account of a journey Paul Hyland made along the little-known course of the sacred Godavari river in Southern India: a pilgrimage through both his past and India's present. It is the story of the search for his ancestors, missionaries and traders, who settled in the region generations ago and of their Balm--a wonder cure for all sorts of ailments and afflictions. It is also a fascinating and enlightening journey through India today. Wading through the country's contradictions and irritations, its ugliness and its beauty, Hyland encounters both the exotic and the commonplace. He meets snake charmers and sadhus, bogi men and horn dancers, witnesses ancient rituals and observes the most simple aspects of daily life. Indian Balm is an extraordinary and, above all, unique journey--vivid, intimate and revealing--travel writing at its colorful best.
Review
"As pungently aromatic as a Madras curry."--Sunday Telegraph 'Books of the Year"
"Indian Balm sheds vivid and dramatic light on this unsung Indian province. A richly rewarding read."--John Keay
"Paul Hyland went off the tourist track and up the river his forebears adopted...His experiences - good, bad and never less than colourful - are revealed in Indian Balm which captures the spirit of this south eastern area of the subcontinent and makes a thoroughly engrossing read."--Choice, "Book of the Month"
About the Author
Paul Hyland was born in Dorset a month after India gained independence. An award-winning poet and travel writer, his books Purbeck and Wight are modern classics.