Man on Fire (Kelman novel)
| Author | Stephen Kelman |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak |
| Set in | India |
| Published | 2015 (Bloomsbury Publishing) |
| Publication place | United Kingdom |
| Media type |
Man on Fire is a 2015 novel by English author Stephen Kelman and his second novel. The work was published on 13 August 2015 through Bloomsbury and is set in India.[1] It is a fictional biography of Bibhuti Bhushan Nayak, a multiple Guiness and Limca record holder from Mumbai.
Kelman was inspired to write the book after watching a documentary about India where the English comedian Paul Merton kicked Nayak in the groin in an attempt to set a Limca World Record for amount of times being kicked in the groin.[2][3]
Plot
The novel follows Nayak and John Lock, an Englishman that has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. He has left his life and spouse behind in order to elope to India under the pretense of committing suicide. Once in India he meets Nayak and decides to help the man break the world record for breaking the most number of baseball bats on his shin bone.
Reception
Critical reception has been positive and the Financial Times has called the book an "enthralling novel by a writer of considerable talent".[4] The novel has also received praise from multiple reviewers with The Guardian, with both praising it for its humor.[5][6]
References
- ^ "Man on Fire". Bloomsbury Publishing. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ^ "How a kick in the groin sparked Stephen Kelman's new book". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ^ "Hit me! Hit me below the belt! Owww!". The Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
- ^ Forbes, Review by Malcolm (2015-08-14). "'Man on Fire', by Stephen Kelman". Financial Times. ISSN 0307-1766. Retrieved 2015-12-30.
- ^ Wagner, Erica (2015-08-08). "Man on Fire by Stephen Kelman review – pain means nothing to BB Nayak". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
- ^ Cartwright, Justin (2015-08-23). "Man on Fire by Stephen Kelman review – India through the tale of Bibhuti". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-02-04.