Set in Kerala on India’s Malabar Coast, The Covenant of Water follows three generations of a Christian family bound by a mysterious curse: in every generation, someone dies by drowning. Spanning 1900 to 1977, the novel centers on Big Ammachi, the formidable matriarch who witnesses profound changes in her family and in society over her long life. With vivid storytelling, medical insight, warmth, and quiet humor, Abraham Verghese weaves a powerful tale of love, faith, loss, and healing. This sweeping, deeply human novel is both a lyrical portrait of a vanished India and a moving tribute to medical progress and the sacrifices of past generations.