Four gems, with new introductions, mark acclaimed Indian writer R. K. Narayan's centennial
Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India 'the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story.' Composed of powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience. This edition includes an introduction by Pulitzer Prize- winning author Jhumpa Lahiri.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India 'the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story.' Composed of powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color, revealing the essence of India and of human experience. This edition includes an introduction by Pulitzer Prize- winning author Jhumpa Lahiri.
For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
Malgudi Days is a collection of short stories written by R. Narayan, published in 1943 by Indian Thought Publications, the publishing company Naraya huimself founded in 1942. He founded the company after he was cut off from England as a result of WWII, and needed some outlet for his writing.
Cover of Malgudi School days 2009 Puffin Classics edition | |
Author | R. K. Narayan |
---|---|
Cover artist | R. K. Laxman |
Country | India |
Language | English |
Genre | Novel |
Published | 1935 Hamilton |
Media type | |
Pages | 459 |
ISBN | 978-0-09-928227-3 |
OCLC | 360179 |
Followed by | The Bachelor of Arts |
Swami and Friends is the first of a trilogy of novels written by R. K. Narayan (1906–2001), English language novelist from India. The novel, the first book Narayan wrote, is set in British India in a fictional town called Malgudi. The second and third books in the trilogy are The Bachelor of Arts and The English Teacher.
Malgudi Schooldays is a slightly abridged version of Swami and Friends, and includes two additional stories featuring Swami from Malgudi Days and Under the Banyan Tree.[1]
- 1Publication
Publication[edit]
Swami and Friends is the first novel written by R. K. Narayan.[2] It was published through the intervention of a friend and neighbour ('Kittu' Purna) who was studying at Oxford. Through him, Graham Greene came into contact with Narayan's work, became especially interested in it and took it upon himself to place the book with a reputable English publisher (Hamish Hamilton).[3] Graham Greene was responsible for the title Swami and Friends, changing it from Narayan's Swami, the Tate, suggesting that it would have the advantage of having some resemblance to Rudyard Kipling's Stalky & Co..[4]
Greene arranged the details of the contract and remained closely involved until the novel was published. Narayan's indebtedness to Greene is inscribed on the front endpaper of a copy of Swami and Friends Narayan presented to Greene: 'But for you, Swami should be in the bottom of Thames now'.[4]
Albert Mission School friends[edit]
- W.S. Swaminathan: A ten-year-old boy studying at Albert Mission School, Malgudi. He lives in Vinayaka Mudali Street. He is later transferred to Board High School.
- Mani: Swami's classmate at Albert Mission School, lives in Abu Lane, he is known as 'Mighty good-for-nothing'. He carries around a club sometimes, and threatens to beat his enemies to a pulp.
- M. Rajam: Swami's classmate at Albert Mission School, lives in Lawley Extension. His father is the Deputy Police Superintendent of Malgudi. He previously studied at an English Boys' School, Madras. He is also the Captain of Malgudi Cricket Club (Victory Union Eleven).
- Somu : Monitor of 1st Form A Section, lives in Kabeer Street. He fails in 1st Form and is 'automatically excluded from the group'.
- Sankar: Swami's classmate in 1st Form A Section. His father gets transferred at the end of the term. He is the most brilliant boy of the class.
- Samuel ('The Pea'): Swami's classmate in 1st Form A Section. He is known as 'The Pea' because of his height.
Swami's house[edit]
- W. T. Srinivasan: Swami's father, a lawyer
- Lakshmi: Swami's mother, homemaker
- Swami's grandmother
- Swami's late grandfather (sub-magistrate)
- Subbu: Swami's little brother
Cricketers mentioned[edit]
Cultural depictions[edit]
- Swami and Friends was adapted by actor-director Shankar Nag into the television drama series Malgudi Days in 1986.[5] The series was directed by Nag and Carnatic musicianL. Vaidyanathan composed the score. R. K. Narayan's brother and acclaimed cartoonist R. K. Laxman was the sketch artist.[6]
Critical reception[edit]
On November 5, 2019, the BBC News listed Swami and Friends on its list of the 100 most influential novels.[7]
References[edit]
- ^Username * (2009-11-15). 'Malgudi Schooldays'. Penguin Books India. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^'R. K. Narayan (Indian author) - Encyclopædia Britannica'. Britannica.com. Retrieved 2014-02-01.
- ^Pier Paolo Piciucco, A companion to Indian fiction in English 2004, Atlantic Publishers & Dist
- ^ abPier Paolo Piciucco, A Companion to Indian Fiction in English (2004) Atlantic Publishers & Dist
- ^''You acted exactly as I imagined Swami to be''. Rediff.com. 16 May 2001. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- ^'The return of Malgudi Days'. Rediff.com. July 21, 2006. Retrieved 2009-08-28.
- ^'100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts'. BBC News. 2019-11-05. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
The reveal kickstarts the BBC's year-long celebration of literature.
External links[edit]
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