About the Book: The Stain by Sarah Joseph, translated from Malayalam by Sangeetha Sreenivasan, reimagines the biblical tale of Lot and Sodom through a contemporary lens. Set in a Levantine dreamscape where opium blooms like dark flowers, the narrative portrays Lot as a foreigner navigating the shadows of a city consumed by its own vices. His solitary compassion stands in stark contrast to the city’s relentless feast, where figures like Emalath, Bithya, and Jachin are mere echoes. This novel delves into themes of truth, humanity, and the complexities of moral choices in a world where the known unravels