Courtesans Don't Read Newspapers

by Anil Yadav, Vaibhav Sharma (Translator)

Nothing is as it seems, yet it is more so . . .

Anil Yadav chooses to tell stories that force you to stretch your emotions, question the world of privilege as the characters begin to find their way somewhere deep within you.
In Courtesans Don’t Read Newspapers a reporter faces the moral dilemma of reporting a conspiracy threatening the existence of a colony of prostitutes. Lord Almighty. . . is a socio-political take on the condition of those on the fringes of society where a riot can both destroy and save them. In The Magic of Certain Old Clothes vanity is explored very subtly through secondhand clothes. The Folk Singer’s Swan Song tells the story of a singer where his music gets inextricably linked to politics and power. R.J. Saheb’s Radio delves through the themes of past and present, the rich and the poor, The road to the other world is a poignant tale of loss, a story of a memory.
Strange things make complete sense in Yadav’s stories. You imagine that this is a different world, but it’s the same world with a deeper, sharper, more focused lens.

Genres: India, Short Stories

165 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 14, 2025

Reviews

[Vani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtesans might not read newspapers but you must read this book.

[Ashwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit a slight bias upfront, as the translator is someone I know personally. That said, this collection of stories by Anil Yadav was a truly enjoyable and profoundly impactful read. Yadav brings an inventive playfulness to language, a quality that Vaibhav has beautifully rendered into English. The stories feel utterly modern, yet they powerfully bring to the forefront the age-old practices of caste and social hierarchies that continue to relegate and dehumanize certain sections of society.

[विकास 'अंजान' · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5

[Ashish Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like hearing a tale being told.

[Shyam Karthik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good set of short stories with the big story as book title… properly catching the feelings of Hindi Heartland… All the stories were in different dimensions!! Good work

[Khyati · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written socio-political satire. Though there are many books based on the subject, however this one provides a raw and all-inclusive outlook.

Looking forward to read more of author's works.

[Vaibhav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I translated this book from the Hindi original Nagarvadhuein Akhbaar Nahi Padhti. You can find both kindle and paperback versions on amazon.

[Sayari Debnath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb.