''Eclipse of the Sun'' is the debut novel by English author

Phil Whitaker Phil Whitaker (born 1966) is an English novelist and physician. He is also a journalist. Education and writings Whitaker, born in Kent, qualified in medicine at the University of Nottingham in 1990 and at the University of Oxford, where he under ...

. It won the

John Llewellyn Rhys Prize The John Llewellyn Rhys Prize was a literary prize awarded annually for the best work of literature (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama) by an author from the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth aged 35 or under, written in English and publis ...

in 1997, a

Betty Trask Award The Betty Trask Prize and Awards are for first novels written by authors under the age of 35, who reside in a current or former Commonwealth nation. Each year the awards total £20,000, with one author receiving a larger prize amount, called the ...

in 1998, and was shortlisted for the 1997 Whitbread First Novel Award.

Plot Introduction

Set in a small Indian town in 1995 where Rajesh Deshpande, an insecure, isolated science teacher is smitten by the new English tutor, but struggles to find a way to meet her. Then he learns about the forthcoming solar eclipse which appears to provide the ideal opportunity to impress her. Meanwhile, his faithful but superstitious wife Sumila determines to restore his love for her with the help of the Hindu gods and under the counsel of her overbearing mother.

Reception

Mary Loudon writing in ''

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

'' states that despite never having been to India, the author "has managed with exquisite sensitivity to capture the feel and the tone of the country." Loudon does criticize the novels 'lack of pace and colour', explaining that "To set up a debate about science versus religion in contemporary India is a great idea, but the execution of it is a little slow and a little dry, and to my mind the novel is too long." But she concludes "Nevertheless, Whitaker is a thoughtful and imaginative writer, who bends to his subject and characters with rare humility and commitment. He is yet to find a confident authorial voice and a strong identifying style, but with time he may well do so". James Simmons in ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world. It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''The ...

'' has no such reservations and calls the novel 'a little masterpiece', writing "Because of its familiar subject and the naiveté of the characters one might be inclined to put this book aside after the first chapter, but it is well worth persevering with because Whitaker is so genuinely inventive. The characters are always surprising you and contributing something subtle and interesting to the theme. Perhaps economy is the key to Whitaker's brilliance. Nothing is overdone." Trevor Lewis in ''

The Sunday Times ''The Sunday Times'' is a British newspaper whose circulation makes it the largest in Britain's quality press market category. It was founded in 1821 as ''The New Observer''. It is published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, whi ...

'' is also positive, "It is a pleasant surprise to find an English writer who deftly evokes both the peculiar flavours of modern Indian life and the rhythms of subcontinental literature as a whole. Whitaker's novel plays off the themes of rationalism and spirituality, sculpting them into a leisurely comedy" and concludes "A generously humoured, genuinely humane account of infatuation and heartbreak".''Sunday Times'', (July 12, 1998): News: p10.

References

External links

*{{official website, https://philwhitaker.co.uk/book/eclipse-of-the-sun/ 1997 British novels Fiction set in 1995 Novels set in India John Llewellyn Rhys Prize-winning works 1997 debut novels