Beyond a Span

'Beyond a Span' is a novel by a modern Indian author. It is set in Tamil Nadu, Southern India and follows the life and fortunes of a foundling boy. The protagonist, Royan, is adopted by a fishing community and he is raised by a bereaved widow and her family.The community live in thatched houses and fish with outdated equipment while the modern world hurls on just a few kilometers away.They live in a 'time bubble' which they lease willingly. At night their swinging lanterns glow like fireflies as they live 'beyond their time-span'.Royan brings strife to his family and the community and is forced to flee to the city. Ill equipped for urban life he lives a marginal existence and slips into a life of crime and degradation with tragic consequences.