NPR's Book of the Day
In 'The Covenant of Water,' Abraham Verghese traces an Indian family's drowning curse
Nov 21, 2023
Abraham Verghese, a physician and professor at Stanford University, discusses his novel 'The Covenant of Water' which explores a family plagued by drowning deaths. He explores the therapeutic benefits of writing for doctors and how novels help physicians confront mortality and improve patient care through storytelling.
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Quick takeaways
- The novel explores a family curse where members drown in spite of living in a region where swimming is common.
- The author, being a physician, uses writing as a means to make sense of the complexities of his medical profession.
Deep dives
The Covenant of Water: A Multigenerational Story
Abraham Vergis' novel, The Covenant of Water, explores the lives of an Indian family over three generations. The novel focuses on a mysterious family condition where members drown in unusual places, despite living in a region where swimming is common. The story unfolds against the backdrop of societal and technological changes over almost a century. Vergis believes that novels serve as a form of instruction and atonement, offering readers guidance for life's challenges.
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