This compendium of 20 papers tries to look into the character of man through the eyes of Indian women novelists. Assessing the objectification of the male in media and literature, it addresses issues concerning gendered interplay, stereotypes of masculinity, male mannerism, marital violence, male chauvinism, alienation, futility and disenchantment.

The women novelists, whose works are studied in this book, include Qurratul Ain Haider, Anita Desai, Dina Mehta, Kamala Markandaya, Arundhati Roy, Shashi Deshpande and Chitra Banerjee.