Heat and Dust (1975) by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala, winner of the Booker Prize, weaves two parallel narratives set in India—one in the 1920s during the British Raj, and another in the 1970s. The story explores the life of Olivia, who, while living in India with her husband, Douglas, becomes captivated by the local Nawab, leading to an affair and eventual elopement. Decades later, a woman (the unnamed narrator), seeking to uncover Olivia's fate, travels to India, where she uncovers the complexities of Olivia's life and her own experiences in the country. The novel juxtaposes themes of colonialism, identity, and personal liberation. Heat and Dust was adapted into a 1983 film by Merchant Ivory.
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