Brazen snaps up novel by Women’s Prize-shortlisted writer Meena Kandasamy

Brazen has acquired Fieldwork as a Sex Object by Women’s Prize-shortlisted writer Dr Meena Kandasamy.

Junior commissioning editor Jane Link acquired world English language rights, excluding the Indian subcontinent, from Aparna Kumar at David Godwin Associates. Rights have also sold to HarperCollins India and Catapult Books. The book will be published in May 2026.

"Amrita Chaturvedi goes by Amy (occasionally A)," the synopsis reads. "Amy identifies as a communist on Twitter (her bio conveniently omits a cameo on reality TV and millionaire daddy who runs the show at Delhi High Court). When an X-rated deepfake of her ‘forwarded many times’ by WhatsApp aunties goes viral, the truth finally catches up."

The blurb continues: "On her birthday, Amy is battling a mass stoning in the digital town square that could cancel even Kim Kardashian. Her executioners? An unhinged cartel of virgins styling themselves after V for Vendetta – except these anonymous keyboard warriors are on a merciless crusade to eradicate desi jezebels and Make India Hindu Again."

Link said of the acquisition: "Fieldwork as a Sex Object spares no one and nothing. I’m fiercely proud to publish this criminally iconic novel by a one-woman literary-political movement alongside HarperCollins India and other plucky editors."

Kandasamy said: "Having spent over 20 years in the public eye, I know that when you are a woman challenging the far-right, the response is always, always character assassination. In an age when artificial intelligence is infiltrating the internet’s infinite memory, what awaits women like me? Fieldwork as a Sex Object, written over the last five years, answers this question."