Journey along one of the world's greatest rivers and catch a glimpse into the lives and cultures of the people who live along its banks The Ganges flows through northern India and Bangladesh for more than 1,500 miles before emptying into the Bay of Bengal. It is sacred to Hindus who worship Ganga, the river goddess. But, it has also long been a magnet for foreigners, some seeking to unravel its mysteries and others who have come in search of plunder. In On the Ganges, George Black, who chronicled the exploration of the American West and the creation of Yellowstone National Park in Empire of Shadows, takes readers on an extraordinary journey from the glaciers of the Himalayas to the sacred city of Varanasi to the "hundred mouths" of the Ganges Delta. On the Ganges, parts of which originated from a New Yorker article published last year, introduces us to a vivid and often eccentric cast of characters who worship the river, pollute it, and flock to it from all over the world in search of enlightenment and adventure. Black encounters those who run the corrupt cremation business, workers who eke out a living in squalid factories, religious fanatics, and Brits who continue to live as if the Raj had never ended. By the end of his journey, Black has given us a memorable picture of the great river, with all its riddles and contradictions, both sacred and profane, giving the last word to a man scavenging for the gifts left by pilgrims.
"Black's wry, humanistic narrative depicts a people riding on the knife's edge of catastrophe, but still holding out for hope."
Publishers Weekly
"George Black's journey along the shores of the Ganges offers readers a series of fascinating glimpses into the past, present, and future of life along India's holiest river. Well aware of the limitations of any travel narrative that purports to "understand" India, Black's collection of reported vignettes nonetheless makes the country feel more comprehensible."
