The writer and journalist Amitava Kumar discusses his recent novel Immigrant, Montana (Hamish Hamilton, 2018), with Joseph Planta.

Immigrant, Montana by Amitava Kumar (Hamish Hamilton, 2018). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Immigrant, Montana

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

The acclaimed author Amitava Kumar joins me now. He is the author of a new book Immigrant, Montana. It’s a novel that tells the story of Kailash, a young man from India, who makes his way to America to study. We follow his life in university, as he contends with fitting in America, as he navigates relationships with women, and his relationship with mentors. I ask Mr. Kumar too about being a mentor to his students. As well as the similarities between him and the character in this book; what he can say in fiction versus in a memoir, as well as how he views America today. We spoke a couple of weeks ago, just after he spent a few days in Vancouver as a guest of the Writers Fest. We talk about his time here and the various travels he’s had for this book. Amitava Kumar is a Professor of English at Vassar College. He is a writer and journalist, and an author of several books of nonfiction, as well as a previous novel. In 2016, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship, as well as a Ford Fellowship. Immigrant, Montana is published by Hamish Hamilton. He joined me from Poughkeepsie, New York. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Amitava Kumar; Mr. Kumar, good morning.

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