Beautiful Thing: Inside the Secret World of Bombay's Dance Bars

<div>Already published in India to great acclaim and named a <i>Time Out</i> Subcontinental Book of the Year and an <i>Observer</i> Book of the Year, Beautiful Thing is a stunning piece of reportage that offers a rare firsthand glimpse into Bombay&#8217;s notorious sex industry.<br><br>Sonia Faleiro was a reporter in search of a story when she met nineteen-year-old Leela, a charismatic exotic dancer with a story to tell. Leela introduced Sonia to the underworld of Bombay&#8217;s dance bars: a world of glamorous women; of fierce love, sex, and violence; of gangsters, police, prostitutes, and pimps. When an ambitious politician cashed in on a tide of false morality and had Bombay&#8217;s dance bars wiped out, Leela&#8217;s proud independence faced its greatest test. In a city where almost everyone is certain that someone, somewhere, is worse off than them, she fights to survive&#151;and to win.<br><br>Sonia Faleiro has crafted one of the most original works of nonfiction about India in years. Unforgettable for its artistry and intimacy, Beautiful Thing is a vivid portrait of one reporter&#8217;s journey into the dark, damaged soul of Bombay.</div>