FROM THE MAN BOOKER-SHORTLISTED AUTHOR NICOLA BARKER

To the world he is Sri Ramakrishna - godly avatar, esteemed spiritual master, beloved guru.

To temple owner, Rani Rashmoni, he is the Brahmin fated to defy tradition.

But to Hriday, his nephew and long-time caretaker, he is just Uncle - maddening, bewildering Uncle, prone to entering trances at the most inconvenient of times, known to perform dangerous acts of self-effacement, who must be vigilantly safeguarded not only against jealous enemies but also against that most treasured yet insidious of sulphur-rich vegetables: the cauliflower.

'Extremely ambitious' Financial Times

'An imaginative tour de force ... She really is a genius' Guardian

'A delight' New Statesman