After the influential DWDD TV programme picked Manu Joseph's THE ILLICIT HAPPINESS OF OTHER PEOPLE as January's Book of the Month, the book has climbed steadily and has just entered the Dutch bestseller lists at Number 8, with more than 10,000 copies in print. Podium have just ordered their 4th printing since the book was launched in January.
See here for a short film made for the programme: http://vimeo.com/58533211
THE ILLICIT HAPPINESS OF OTHER PEOPLE is published in the UK by John Murray, the US by Norton, Canada and India by HarperCollins, and sold in France to Philippe Rey and in Germany to Beck, who will publish as a lead title this Autumn.
Praise for THE ILLICIT HAPPINESS OF OTHER PEOPLE:
'Ingeniously constructed… Joseph is using his witty, incisive writing to explore the great philosophical questions of happiness and life.' -- Mani Suri
'Joseph writes with extraordinary wit, cunning and sympathy about both family relationships and ultimate mysteries.' -- Starred Review, Kirkus Reviews
'Joseph's sublime new novel takes place in early 1990s Madras, India, where Ousep Chacko has reinvigorated his pursuit for the truth about his son Unni's inexplicable death three years ago…Joseph's witty narrative adds depth and vigour to the Chacko family's tale and assuredly explores the complexity of self-perception amidst present-day life.' -- Leah Strauss, Booklist
'Joseph's smart new novel is laced with black humour and keen observations on human nature… Joseph's rich characters intersect in moments of tenderness, yet each continues along a path that gracefully highlights the titular Other and the emotional divides that separate individuals. Lucky for us, Joseph's empathic prose deftly bridges those gaps.' -- Publishers Weekly
'Manu Joseph perfectly captures his characters in his precise, sharp prose. His perfectly named novel, THE ILLICIT HAPPINESS OF OTHER PEOPLE, is terribly funny. This beautifully written work is cleverly organised and engaging. Manu Joseph's prose is clear, wry, dry and witty - reminiscent of the work of Haruki Murakami. THE ILLICIT HAPPINESS OF OTHER PEOPLE will make you smile and even laugh - and it's definitely legal.' -- Ariel Balter, New York Journal of Books
'A wonderful novel which injects dark, rueful laughter into an immensely touching story of loss.' -- Sam Sacks, The Wall Street Journal