This book is an attempt to discuss comprehensively the symbolism of Anita Desai who is unquestionably one of the foremost Indian English novelists. Her greatness is evident not only in her depiction of the depths of human consciousness and sub-consciousness, in her existentialist concern which makes her writings uniquely powerful, in her poetic expression, etc., but also in her skilful use of symbolism. Like Lawrence, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Andre Gide, Thomas Mann, Franz Kafka and William Faulkner, she is a brilliant symbolist, making an abundant use of symbols in her fictional works.

In fact, the symbolic strain in her fiction is, in a sense, the key with the help of which one can properly understand and evaluate her art and ideas. But curiously enough, no full length study of this significant aspect of her fictional art has hitherto been made; only a few pages are devoted to it in the books so far written on her. Hence the need and justification to undertake the present study of her symbolism.