Penguin Essentials: A Passage to India

‘Only in the south, where a group of fists and fingers thrust up through the soil, is the endless expanse interrupted. These fists and fingers are the Marabar Hills, containing the extraordinary caves . . .’

Adela Quested has come to the Indian town of Chandrapore to marry. Together with her elderly companion Mrs Moore, they befriend the charming Dr Aziz, who offers to show them the Marabar Caves.

However, while exploring the caves, an incident occurs which leads to accusations and the arrest of Dr Aziz. As the doctor awaits trial, the British and their Indian subjects are divided over his guilt or innocence and soon tensions threaten to erupt into violence.