Feared, revered, and often wildly misunderstood, the cobra slithers through myth and the wild as one of India’s most enigmatic creatures. An award-winning and critically acclaimed writer, Stephen Alter has authored over twenty books of fiction and non-fiction, which draw deeply from the landscapes, cultures, and natural history of the Himalaya mountain range, where he was born. His recent book, The Cobra’s Gaze, embarks on an extraordinary journey through India’s wildest terrains and wildlife, while unraveling the causes behind the country’s vanishing wilderness. Through vivid encounters and lyrical prose, Stephen Alter brings us face-to-face with creatures on the brink, each account a reminder of what stands to be lost. The book resonates with an urgent call to protect India’s rich and fragile biodiversity before it disappears. He also talks about his new novel, The Great Game, in which he reimagines Rudyard Kipling’s beloved spy, Kimball O’Hara, in the turbulent months before India’s independence. Stephen Alter in conversation with Sanjoy K. Roy

Venue: Steps

All are invited to JLF Colorado - an annual international literature festival of books, ideas, stories and camaraderie - September 13-14 at Boulder Public Library.