“In 1997, Alain de Botton published his book 'How Proust Can Change Your Life.' I was charmed by it. I remember using it in a course on cultural criticism for a graduate class that had a mix of theorists and creative writers.”

Indian writer and journalist

Amitava Kumar is an Indian writer and journalist. He is Professor of English at Vassar College, where he holds the Helen D. Lockwood Chair. His work spans writing and journalism, and his academic post places him within contemporary literary and cultural scholarship. He is known for writing that moves between public commentary and literary expression.