DANCING WITH GODS

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Dancing with Gods is the story of a fallen-away Mormon colliding with the cultures of India. A product of the '60's and a Wyoming ranch background, Henry Hotspur is in search of something more than can be delivered by his traditional American upbringing. Aided by a sympathetic uncle, young Henry is afforded the opportunity to travel to India in search of enlightenment. Against the strong objections of his parents, Henry, dangerously idealistic, takes his uncle's money and runs, in India, Henry experiences the Delhi expatriate hip scene of the '60's, an attempt at yogic realization, an unorthodox Peace Corps experience, and love. At heart a cross-cultural love story, Dancing with Gods delivers Henry into the arms of India and his beloved Kamla, and through that joy and enlightenment, discovery of his creative self. The two fall in love and explore both their own bodies and that of Indian culture. At the pinnacle of passion and love, however, Kamla meets her death. Henry is devastated. Determined to know Kamla through spirit rather than body, Henry makes an existential decision to stay in India until his funds are exhausted. While there, he comes to appreciate not only his love for Kamla, but also discovers a reconciliation of his own heritage with his perception of deep meaning in Indian culture. Upon Henry's returning to America, the novel achieves focus on the uncle-nephew relationship with their intellectual discourse and their exploration of the common Mormon past they have both rejected. Henry earns academic credentials to teach American literature, joining his uncle who is a professor of American history. In the end, Henry realizes that his love of India and Kamla have enhanced his appreciation for the potential that is America, along with his own creative potential. A free-floating narrative spanning over 125 years, Dancing with Gods is at once humorous, dangerous, and bitter-sweet. In this partially autobiographical novel, the sights and sounds of India, Wyoming, and nineteenth-century, Mormon Utah come alive on the page. Anyone interested in exotic love will want to read this novel.