Seppuku: The Curious Workings of the Art Mafia

Pratap Narayan rises out of nowhere to become an unprecedented success in the world of art. He is the most sought-after Indian painter on the international circuit. So sound is his standing that, even when the art market virtually collapses in 2008, Pratap's position remains unassailable. A fellow artist from his early days, Baldev Sharma of Bareilly, narrates Pratap Narayan's escapades - his time as a struggling artist, his complex and controversial relationships with women, and his unmatched ability to network. Seppuku unfolds against the fascinating backdrop of the art world with its whimsical art collectors, businesssavvy gallery owners, wannabe art party crashers, camera-hungry socialites and cynical critics. The first novel in a trilogy from the pen of a seasoned art critic, this is a heady mix of scandal and glamour. A wild portrait of a community that is drunk on its own excesses.