Curry & Rice on Forty Plates or the Ingredients of Social Life at “ Our Station” in India

As the title suggests, Curry & Rice is not a cookbook but a fictional work that focuses on the mofussils, or rural and provincial areas, of the pre-Partition Bengal Presidency. The book provides a rich portrayal of Bengal's social life, depicting the lives and customs of both native Indians and British residents. Atkinson delves into the habits and social customs of the English in India while also offering insights into the practices and lives of Bengali society. Essentially, Curry & Rice is a fictionalized ethnography of the region, illustrated with paintings and accompanied by an introductory poem.