We That Are Young, Preti Taneja's stunning debut novel, focuses on a prominent Indian family that falls into vicious infighting over who will control the future of their vast business. The story invites comparisons to King Lear in its depiction of intergenerational struggle and in the operatic scale of the conflict. Events are set in motion by the return of Jivan Singh, ready to assume a place in the Company--its generic name hinting at its omnipresence--after spending much of his adolescence in the United States. His return coincides with the unexpected resignation of Devraj, the aging patriarch, and the disappearances of his daughter Sita--fleeing an unwanted marriage--and Jivan's brother, Jeet. Thrown into chaos, the Company stumbles into a bitter conflict of succession between Devraj and his oldest daughter, with the father beginning a populist campaign to regain control.
We That Are Young takes place between 2011 and 2012, as massive anti-corruption protests broke out across India. The many characters have competing visions for the Company that are closely intertwined with their personal resentments and even their romantic attachments. Taneja adopts the point of view of a character living amid desperate poverty as well as characters living lives of luxury and aimless decadence. Through the epic central conflict, We That Are Young examines the rapid pace of change in India, with millions left out of the rapid accumulation of wealth afforded to the lucky few. --Hank Stephenson, bookseller, Flyleaf Books, Chapel Hill, N.C.