On October 13, 2013, The Lowland reached #5 of the New York Times Best-sellers list of combined print and ebooks.

Raised in Tollygunge in Calcutta, brothers Subhash and Udayan are inseparable; they find joy in fixing and listening to radios, learning Morse Code, and looking out for each other at school.

Subhash learns that despite the massive bloodshed as a result of the Naxalite Movement, all attention from the press is focused on the Vietnam War; this becomes crystal clear to him when his roommate Richard, an earnest student activist, ignorantly remarks "Naxalbari?

At the end of his first year in the United States, Subhash learns that Udayan has found a wife, Gauri.

The police chief orders his parents and Gauri onto the street and threaten to kill them if Udayan does not surrender himself.

Subhash proves to be an outstanding parent to Bela, and this causes Gauri discomfort knowing that he is not her biological father.

Gauri meets professor Otto Weiss, who notices her talent and encourages her to pursue a doctorate, which she does.

Gauri also becomes uneasy with keeping Bela in the dark regarding Udayan and when she expresses this to Subhash they agree that they will tell her one day together.

One day, when Subhash returns home early, he learns of this neglect and gives Gauri the silent treatment.

She leaves a note in Bengali telling Subhash that he has been a fine father and that he should raise her alone and that she has left for California.

After graduating, Bela lives a nomadic life, traveling around the United States advocating for conservation of the environment.

After becoming a notable name in her field, she draws some attention and one day, UCLA graduate student Lorna asks Gauri for help with her dissertation.

Richard dies shortly afterward and through his funeral, Subhash meets Elise, one of Bela's teachers and they begin a relationship.

After spending some time musing, she forgives Subhash and asks to live with him again in Rhode Island; he agrees.

Shortly afterwards, Subhash emails Gauri asking for a formal divorce, which she agrees is the best course of action.

Gauri then takes a trip back to Kolkata, where, alone and in complete despair, she comes within a step of committing suicide.

[5] In September 2013, The Lowland was placed on the shortlist for the 2013 Man Booker Prize,[6][7] which ultimately went to The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton.

USA Today said, "memorable, potent.." and said of the writer "(Lahiri) has reached literary high ground with The Lowland."