In “Six Days in Bombay,” Alka Joshi crafts a captivating historical novel that follows a young Anglo-Indian nurse named Sona Falstaff as she embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery across Europe in 1937. Joshi, known for her bestselling Jaipur Trilogy, once again demonstrates her remarkable storytelling abilities through this richly textured narrative that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the courage to take chances.
Unlike her previous novels set primarily in India, Joshi expands her canvas to include Prague, Paris, Florence, and London, all while maintaining her signature atmospheric prose and complex characters. The story begins at Wadia Hospital in Bombay where Sona, a cautious, dutiful nurse, meets the enigmatic painter Mira Novak, who is admitted after suffering a miscarriage. In just six days, Mira’s vibrant personality and captivating stories of European adventures leave an indelible mark on Sona before Mira dies under mysterious circumstances, with Sona bearing the blame.
A Masterful Exploration of Identity and Belonging
At its heart, “Six Days in Bombay” is a profound meditation on identity. As an Anglo-Indian woman in pre-independence India, Sona exists in a liminal space—neither fully accepted by Indians nor by the British. Joshi brilliantly captures this cultural duality.
Through Sona’s interactions with characters across Europe, Joshi explores how our sense of self is shaped not only by heritage but also by the stories we tell ourselves. Each encounter—with Petra in Prague, Josephine in Paris, and Paolo in Florence—peels back another layer of both Mira’s life and Sona’s understanding of her own potential.
Characters That Breathe with Life
The novel’s greatest strength lies in Joshi’s ability to create complex, flawed characters who feel remarkably human. Sona’s evolution from a timid nurse bound by duty to a woman willing to take chances forms the emotional core of the story. Even minor characters are rendered with careful attention:
Dr. Stoddard, a patient at Wadia Hospital who becomes a father figure to Sona, is “a jolly civil servant with eyes that faced in different directions” who teaches her card games and encourages her to take risks. His gentle prodding becomes instrumental in Sona’s journey of self-discovery.
Mira Novak is perhaps the most fascinating character—charismatic, talented, and deeply flawed. As Sona discovers, Mira is “not as sure of herself as I’d thought, as I’d wanted to think. I needed a heroine, and she became mine.” The gradual unraveling of Mira’s true nature adds layers of complexity to the story, challenging readers to consider how we idealize those we admire.
A Vivid Historical Backdrop
Joshi excels at recreating the tumultuous interwar period of the late 1930s. Each city Sona visits is rendered with meticulous historical detail and sensory richness:
“Borgo San Frediano was on the other side of the Arno. Tourists tended to stay on the Duomo side of the river so they could visit the cathedral, or the Uffizi Gallery. I had to cross the river to the south side by way of the Ponte Vecchio where I heard English being spoken everywhere.”
The novel’s backdrop of rising political tensions in Europe—with Mussolini’s Italy, pre-war Czechoslovakia, and the Indian independence movement all simmering—adds urgency to Sona’s personal journey and grounds the story firmly in its historical context.
Strengths That Shine
Psychological Depth
The novel excels in its psychological depth, particularly in Sona’s complex relationship with her absent English father. Her journey to London to confront him represents a crucial emotional catharsis:
“In Dr. Stoddard’s case, there had been no first family in England to claim him when he fell in love with Deva. Breaking off with his fiancée had been as easy as a handwritten letter. The obligation to return home hadn’t taken precedence. Was that how my father had made his decision?”
Cultural Authenticity
Joshi’s portrayal of 1930s India and Europe feels thoroughly researched and authentic. She weaves in cultural details—from the Turkish delight in Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar to the intellectuals at Paris’s La Rotonde café—that transport readers effortlessly across continents and cultures.
Elegant Prose
The writing is elegant and evocative without becoming overwrought. Joshi has a gift for finding the perfect detail to bring a scene to life:
“The art dealer skirted the fountains and walked toward the Pont d’léna. The Eiffel Tower loomed on the other side of the Seine. We were quiet as we crossed the bridge. Josephine stopped to lean on the stone wall and watch the boats below as so many others were doing.”
Areas for Growth
Pacing Inconsistencies
The novel occasionally struggles with pacing, particularly in the middle sections. Some of Sona’s revelations about Mira feel repetitive, while other potentially rich scenes are rushed through.
Uneven Character Development
While Sona and Mira are fully realized characters, some supporting characters—particularly Filip, Mira’s husband—remain somewhat enigmatic until the final chapters. Their motivations sometimes feel underdeveloped compared to the richness of the protagonists.
Occasional Melodrama
In a few scenes, particularly those involving Sona’s romantic interests, the narrative veers toward melodrama that feels at odds with the novel’s otherwise subtle emotional landscape.
A Nuanced Look at Womanhood in the 1930s
One of the novel’s most compelling aspects is its exploration of women’s limited options in the 1930s. Through various female characters—from the struggling artist Petra to the shrewd art dealer Josephine—Joshi illustrates the different strategies women employed to navigate patriarchal constraints:
“I love how she seemed to move through life.” I stopped. “I need you to believe that harming Mira was not something I was capable of, even by accident.”
Sona’s growing independence and willingness to travel alone across Europe represent a radical act for a woman of her time and background. Her journey becomes not just a physical one but a feminist awakening to her own capabilities.
A Satisfying Resolution
The novel’s conclusion, which jumps ahead to 1956 Bombay, provides a deeply satisfying resolution to Sona’s journey. Without revealing spoilers, Joshi skillfully brings together the threads of identity, family, and courage that have run throughout the narrative:
“I thought of her often, much to my surprise. She was fragile but sweet, and when the time came, she was brave.”
This epilogue allows readers to see how Sona has integrated the lessons from her European adventure into a life that honors both her Indian and British heritage while carving out her own unique path.
Final Verdict: A Rich and Rewarding Read
“Six Days in Bombay” is a thoughtful, beautifully rendered historical novel that rewards patient readers with its psychological depth and cultural insights. While it may not move as swiftly as some historical mysteries, its richness of character and setting compensate handsomely for any pacing issues.
The novel will particularly appeal to readers who enjoyed Joshi’s previous works like “The Henna Artist” and “The Secret Keeper of Jaipur,” as well as fans of Tan Twan Eng’s “The Garden of Evening Mists” or Arundhati Roy’s “The God of Small Things“—stories that explore the complexities of identity against vivid historical backgrounds.
With “Six Days in Bombay,” Alka Joshi continues to establish herself as a masterful chronicler of women’s lives across cultures and time periods. It’s a novel that stays with you long after the final page, inviting reflection on how we construct our identities from the fragments of heritage, experience, and the courage to step into the unknown.
