The Pomegranate King: Essays

“Nishta Mehra's luminous prose shines in these linked essay meditations on love, grief, and identity. A natural storyteller, she has an original voice, an ear for spoken language, and an eye for the sparkling detail. A compellingly original coming-of-age story told in writing that is at turns crisp and lyrical but always entertaining.”
-Cara Blue Adams, editor, The Southern Review

“The Pomegranate King is an emotionally balanced, thoughtfully curated collection of essays...Mehra unpacks what it means to arrive at the shores of other strange countries: coming out, falling in love, becoming a parent and mourning your own. A truly moving debut.”
-Lauren Eggert-Crowe, author of In the Songbird Laboratory & The Exhibit

Divided into four sections--Identity, Death, Community, & Belief--The Pomegranate King is a dynamic collection of essays that showcases Nishta Mehra’s insightful voice and unique perspective. Filled with stories that are at once deeply personal and universally relevant, these twelve original essays demonstrate Mehra’s ability to find meaning in all facets of human experience. Whether recounting the sudden death of her father, describing her adventures in the kitchen, or analyzing the art of Mark Rothko, Mehra makes smart, poignant observations that will captivate and touch you. An engaging, compelling read.