The Covenant of Water (Oprah's Book Club)

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK • INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • SUBJECT OF A SIX-PART SUPER SOUL PODCAST SERIES HOSTED BY OPRAH WINFREY

From the New York Times-bestselling author of "Cutting for Stone" comes a stunning and magisterial epic of love, faith, and medicine, set in Kerala, South India, tracing three generations of a family as they unravel a mysterious secret.

“One of the best books I’ve read in my entire life. It’s epic. It’s transportive . . . It was unputdownable!”

"The Covenant of Water" is the eagerly awaited new novel by Abraham Verghese, acclaimed author of the widely praised "Cutting for Stone," which has captivated over 1.5 million readers in the United States alone and held a place on the New York Times bestseller list for over two years.

Spanning from 1900 to 1977, "The Covenant of Water" unfolds in Kerala, along South India’s Malabar Coast, chronicling three generations of a family plagued by a peculiar curse: in each generation, at least one member meets a watery demise—yet in Kerala, water is omnipresent. At the dawn of the 20th century, a twelve-year-old girl from Kerala’s longstanding Christian community embarks on a boat journey to her wedding, where she will meet her forty-year-old groom for the first time. Thus begins an unforgettable odyssey for the young girl, who will eventually become the revered matriarch known as Big Ammachi. Throughout her extraordinary life, filled with both triumphs and tragedies, she bears witness to profound changes, her unwavering faith and love serving as guiding lights.

A luminous portrayal of a bygone era in India and the inexorable passage of time, "The Covenant of Water" celebrates advancements in medicine and the depth of human empathy while acknowledging the trials endured by past generations for the sake of those living today. It stands as a testament to Verghese's unparalleled literary prowess, solidifying its place as one of the most exquisite novels of recent years.