A Ballad of Remittent Fever: A Novel by Ashoke Mukhopadhyay [Hardcover]

A Ballad of Remittent Fever unfolds in early 20th-century Calcutta, a city battling deadly diseases like plague, cholera, and malaria amid the socio-political upheaval of British rule and the impending threat of World War I. At the center of this historical tapestry is Dr. Dwarikanath Ghoshal, a committed physician determined to eradicate these infectious diseases, opposing superstitions and outdated practices that enable their spread.

Spanning four generations, the novel follows the Ghoshal family as they uphold Dwarikanath's dedication to science and social reform. Dwarikanath’s son, Kritindranath, is an ambitious young man who joins the Bengal Ambulance Corps to serve in Mesopotamia during WWI, while his soulmate, Madhumadhabi, pursues a career in Ayurvedic medicine, despite heartbreak when Kritindranath marries another. The lives of Dwarikanath’s wife, Amodini, and later descendants add depth to the story, as they each face battles against both disease and societal norms amid Calcutta’s intense transformations.

Originally published in Bengali as Abiram Jwarer Roopkatha, this novel beautifully weaves history, medicine, and personal stories to portray the resilience and struggles of individuals devoted to healing in times of crisis. The novel is an evocative exploration of medicine, legacy, and change in a society on the cusp of modernity.