Archive · 25 Jun 2025
Jeet Thayil’s New Novel Explores Journalist’s Vietnam Experiences
This is a story about a journalist named George who travels to North Vietnam in the 1970s.
He goes with a friend who is a communist.
The story explores George's adventures and the impact of these experiences.
The author uses the objects George encountered to tell the story of the people around him, including their daily lives and struggles.
Jeet Thayil's new 'documentary novel' delves into the lives of those affected by separation across different eras.
The story focuses on George's experiences in 1970s North Vietnam.
George, a journalist, travels to Hanoi with a communist friend, Raghavan.
The narrative explores how objects can tell stories about a society.
The story includes experiences and reflections on a trip to the border between North and South Vietnam.
- Who
- George, a journalist, and his friend Raghavan, with other supporting characters.
- What
- A new novel, "The Elsewhereans," explores a journalist's experiences in Vietnam and how material objects can reflect the spirit of a place.
- When
- 1970s, with flashbacks to earlier periods.
- Where
- North Vietnam, with references to Hong Kong, Bombay, and other locations.
- Why
- To recount the human experience during a specific period, reflecting on separation, cultural identity, and the impact of material objects.
Differing Views
Perspectives
Political Beliefs
Differing Views
George aligns himself with the student communist movement.
Perspectives
Raghavan is a known communist.
- Author
- Jeet Thayil
- Setting
- 1970s Vietnam
- Protagonist
- George
- Genre
- Documentary Novel
- Friend
- Raghavan
- Manager
- Nguyen Phuc Chau