NPR's Book of the Day In 'A Guardian and a Thief,' a mother’s love for her family threatens her own morals
Nov 12, 2025
Megha Majumdar, author of the National Book Award finalist A Guardian and a Thief, discusses her gripping novel set in a near-future Kolkata ravaged by climate change. She delves into the complexities of a family's dreams stymied by a theft and how hope can turn perilous in desperate times. Majumdar reveals that her characters are driven by love yet face moral dilemmas, showcasing the city's vibrant and resilient spirit while highlighting the weight of motherhood. Her insights remind us that hope can sometimes challenge our moral boundaries.
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Climate Threats Reshape Everyday Life
- Kolkata's climate threats reshape personal and communal life in urgent ways.
- Megha Majumdar wrote from sorrow about her hometown's hotter, storm-prone future and its human cost.
When Hope Turns Vicious Under Scarcity
- Hope can manifest as vicious or sly when survival is at stake.
- Majumdar asks who we become when private hope clashes with the community's needs.
Motherhood Shaped The Novel's Moral Core
- Becoming a new mother changed Majumdar's focus and deepened the novel's moral questions.
- Her experience made her explore the ferocity of a mother's love tested by catastrophe.
