In their various locales--from London to the American Midwest to Sierra Leone--the men and women of these nine tales navigate unfamiliar worlds to sometimes comic, often heartbreaking effect.

In “Lion and Panther in London,” a turn-of-the-century Indian wrestler arrives in London desperate to prove himself champion of the world, only to find the city mysteriously absent of challengers. In “Light & Luminous,” a gifted dance instructor falls victim to her own vanity when a student competition allows her a final encore.  In “The Scriptological Review: A Last Letter from the Editor,” a young man obsessively studies his father’s handwriting in hopes of making sense of his death. And in the marvelous “What to Do with Henry,” a white woman from Ohio takes in the illegitimate child her husband left behind in Sierra Leone, as well as an orphaned chimpanzee who comes to anchor this strange new family.

With exuberance and compassion, Tania James once again draws us into the lives of damaged, driven, and beautifully complicated characters who quietly strive for human connection.

Praise & REviews

“Get ready for a collection of love stories that absolutely doesn’t include a variation on Cinderella-plus-Prince…every single story contains a similarly minute but luminous event, each a reminder that love entails a lot of wear and tear—but on a good day, lets us transcend the average with a little mystery called tenderness.”
–O MagazineO's 2012 Summer Reading List READ THE FULL REVIEW

“These feats of emotional range and inventiveness require a precise clarity of vision, especially in a collection as cohesive as Aerogrammes. Along with James’s compassion and wit, not to mention her crisp, luminous prose, that vision makes the stories in Aerogrammes a delight to read, whether in prudent intervals or a single glorious banquet.”
–Fiction Writers Review READ THE FULL REVIEW

“[T]he mystery of identity is universal, and James and her generation of post-colonial, second-generation Americans are not alone in seeking to penetrate it. Like all great fiction, James’s stories emerge from a strange and beautiful source of inspiration, then proceed to transcend it…the still and elegant voice of a generous writer telling us that we are not alone.”
–The Huffington Post READ THE FULL REVIEW

“James works magic again and again in capturing the heart of relationships between siblings and across generations.”
–LEO Weekly READ THE FULL REVIEW

“The stories’ deep sadness is so beautifully written it takes the reader by surprise. The tales are quiet and unfold gently but pack an emotional wallop.”
–The Courier Journal READ THE FULL REVIEW

“Thankfully, ‘sophomore slump’ is not part of Tania James’ vocabulary…James manages to sustain an unwavering level of resonating quality throughout each of the nine stories in Aerogrammes: each story is a world unto itself, standing fully formed with little lacking.”
–Book Dragon READ THE FULL REVIEW

“A chimpanzee and a ghost are among the characters entangled in sticky human relationships in these lyrical, warmhearted tales.”
–New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice

“Victorious…[Aerogrammes’] nine stories crisscross in and out of reality…But throughout, the constant is James’s ability to render strong characters and tender relationships. Some are real and some are clearly imagined, but they all come to feel authentic and deftly drawn.”
–Washington Post READ THE FULL REVIEW

“[J]am-packed and hectically lovely…The stories in Aerogrammes uphold our notion of the Possible, solidly grounded in what could reasonably happen to its characters in the modern world, but allowing us a hungry glance toward the fantastic edge of each reality. All of this our author does in prose that glides so smoothly you’d think you’re hydroplaning between covers. It doesn’t even slow you down to notice how sad she’s made you feel.”
–DBC Reads READ THE FULL REVIEW

“[A] first-rate new collection…James’ prose is clean, deep, limpid; the stories she builds throw strange, beautiful light on completely unexpected places…their cumulative grip is real, fresh, and worthy.”
–San Francisco Chronicle READ THE FULL REVIEW

“In her first short story collection, James, whose debut novel Atlas of Unknowns dazzled us, returns with a vengeance, with nine expertly crafted, beautifully set tales that careen from tender to funny to crisp, but always say exactly what they mean.”
–Flavorwire (Top Ten Must-Reads for May)

“Although most of the characters in these nine immaculately crafted short stories share a common native land—Kerala in southern India—their range of emotions is brilliantly diverse…James understands the nuances of emotional displacement.”
–Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) READ THE FULL REVIEW

“By turns rib-shakingly funny and poignant, pinwheeling and wise, these stories are always devastatingly candid when it comes to their central preoccupations: exile and identity, the fault lines inside a family, grief and love…Proof that the short story is joyfully, promiscuously, thrillingly alive.”
–Karen Russell READ THE FULL REVIEW

“Tania James’ stories are funny, deeply tender, and each-and-every-one memorable. Aerogrammes is a gift of a collection from a talent who only grows.”
–Nathan Englander

“These are stories that map out a fresh new world between America and South Asia with a rare blend of humor and sensitivity. Surprising and affecting.”
–Romesh Gunesekera

“At every turn, James’ prose is crisp, observant and carefully controlled…James projects a deep emotional intelligence.”
–Kirkus Reviews (starred review) READ THE FULL REVIEW

“A satisfying collection for lovers of short fiction from a refreshingly authentic voice.”
–Library Journal

“Lushly exploring themes of identity and recognition, singularity and community, James crafts taut, complete worlds populated by complex yet recognizable characters who ultimately achieve catharsis and obtain enlightenment, often through unplanned and unconventional methods.”
–Carol Haggas, Booklist