Book on Kamasutra in British young writers’ award short-list

A book on cultural history of the ancient Indian text of 'Kamasutra' was short-listed for the 'Young Writer of the Year' award instituted by a leading British newspaper.

A book on cultural history of the ancient Indian text of ‘Kamasutra’ was short-listed for the ‘Young Writer of the Year’ award instituted by a leading British newspaper.

The Book of Love – In Search of the Kamasutra, written by 34-year-old James McConnachie, however, lost out to The Truth About These Strange Times by Adam Foulds for the prize.

The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year award honours writers below the age of 35.

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According to McConnachie, who lives in Hyde, Hampshire, the Kamasutra, better known for its sexual content, was not meant to be ‘smutty’, since most of it focuses on fashion, cleanliness, and how to behave in Indian society at the time.

McConnachie said that it was the British who seized upon its graphic sexual content, after stumbling on a copy during the Victorian era. After it was brought to Europe, thousands of copies were printed and sold on the black market.

The Kamasutra was banned in Britain until the 1960s, but proved popular both underground and later on public sale.

McConnachie, who has travelled across India and Nepal, has written for the Rough Guides series, but the Kamasutra book is his first full-length text. He told the media that research for the book was conducted in British libraries.

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Since his book went on sale in 2007, 7,000 copies have been printed, with a launch scheduled in the US in May.

Though the award went to Foulds, McConnachie said he was happy to make the final short-list of four books.