The Artist of Disappearance

work by Desai

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July 20, 2026

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"The Artist of Disappearance" is a collection of three novellas by Anita Desai, published in 2011. The work explores themes of abandonment and dislocation that arise from India's rapid modernization. The stories delve into the consequences of societal changes on individuals, highlighting their struggles with displacement in a rapidly evolving India. Anita Desai is an Indian novelist known for her evocative portrayal of characters and mood, often focusing on the experiences of women and the complexities of Indian life and culture. Her other notable works include "Cry, the Peacock," "Clear Light of Day," and "Baumgartner's Bombay".1

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Anita Desai
The Artist of Disappearance (2011) collected three novellas that examined the collateral abandonment and dislocation wrought by India’s furious rush toward modernity. Her daughter Kiran Desai won the Booker Prize for the novel The Inheritance of Loss (2006).
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The Artist of Disappearance (2011) collected three novellas that examined the collateral abandonment and dislocation wrought by India’s furious rush toward modernity. Her daughter Kiran Desai won the Booker Prize for the novel The Inheritance of Loss (2006).
Read More