A Fine Balance tells the story of four unlikely people whose lives come together during a time of political turmoil soon after the government declares a "State of Internal Emergency." Through days of bleakness and hope, their circumstances — and their fates — become inextricably linked in ways no one could have foreseen. Mistry's prose is alive with enduring images and a cast of unforgettable characters. Written with compassion, humour, and insight, A Fine Balance is a vivid, richly textured, and powerful novel written by one of the most gifted writers of our time. (From McClelland & Stewart)

A Fine Balance won the 1995 Giller Prize and was a finalist for Canada Reads 2002, the first edition of CBC's battle of the books, when it was defended by Megan Follows. In 2013, the novel was selected by the public as the greatest Giller Prize-winning book of the past 20 years, and was named the Giller of all Gillers.