'Dancing with the Two-Headed Tigress' is a debut novel by Tina Biswas, a twenty-six year old new talent from the British-Asian literary scene. The novel is a fast moving tale interweaving a plethora of relationships, spanning three countries, and revolving around one extended dysfunctional family. With a witty and sassy style, Tina explores the themes of cultural misunderstandings, clashes between generations and the dynamics of human allegiances and betrayals.

Prakash, a doctor with too much heart is bored and frustrated. Ignored by both Tuhina, his successful, high-powered wife, and Darshini, his beautiful, nonchalant daughter, who decides everything on a flip of a coin, he doesn't have the backbone to do anything about his situation. Living in London, he dreams of going back to Calcutta for a simpler, happier life.

Into this family comes Mousumi, a bumbling and unsophisticated cousin from Calcutta, sent to stay with her cosmopolitan cousins after the death of her father. Her presence is only just tolerated by Tuhina and Darshini, but in the witless Prakash, she finds and unlikely friend and ally.

Then there is Seph, Darshini's devoted boyfriend, a handsome, complicated man who has left Ireland to escape his mother's overbearing affections. But when Seph's jealousy leads to violence, it is only hapless Mousoumi who can help him.

Emotionally resonant without being sentimental, and frank without being judgmental, 'Dancing with the Two-Headed Tigress' is a social comedy examining the amusing interactions arising from individuals misinterpreting and misunderstanding each other, with often life-changing consequences.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tina Biswas was born in Scarborough and read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford. She lives in London and is currently writing her second novel.