- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Classics (2 Nov 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0143039644
- ISBN-13: 978-0143039648
- Product Dimensions: 13 x 1.5 x 19.4 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 331,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
Raju's first stop after his release from prison is the barber's shop Then he decides to take refuge in an abandoned temple. Raju used to be India's most corrupt tourist guide - but now a peasant mistakes him for a holy man. Gradually, almost grudgingly, he begins to play the part. He succeeds so well that God himself intervenes to put Raju's new holiness to the test.
About the Author
R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja's College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based there. In 1958 Narayan's work The Guide won him the National Prize of the Indian Literary Academy, his country's highest literary honor. In addition to his novels, Narayan has authored five collections of short stories, including A Horse and Two Goats, Malguidi Days, and Under the Banyan Tree, two travel books, two volumes of essays, a volume of memoirs, and the re-told legends Gods, Demons and Others, The Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. In 1980 he was awarded the A.C. Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature and in 1982 he was made an Honorary Member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Narayan died in 2001.
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First Sentence
Raju welcomed the intrusion-something to relieve the loneliness of the place. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Raju welcomed the intrusion-something to relieve the loneliness of the place. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is the first Narayan novel I have read and I found his storytelling impressive. His characters come right off the page - and I loved the sights, sounds and smells of the Southern India he depicts.
The set-up for this tale is engaging: a man leaves prison, hoping to re-integrate with society unnoticed...but ends up being mistaken for a holy man and becomes the centre of undesired attention. I enjoyed the comment made about the madness of herd mentality (there's a wonderful scene at the end where the people are scrambling to find spare water so that Raju can stand knee-deep in a river - in order to pray for rain to end a drought).
I agree with a previous review that perhaps too much time was spent on the Raju/Rosie romance...they are such strong characters, however, that the narrative manages to sustain their story arc without too much strain. What I admired most, I think, was the spiritual side to the story - not just the spiritual dedication of the villagers but aso the spiritual journey forced upon Raju. In the end, you get the sense that he almost believes in something for the first time in his life.
What I was hoping for, though, was a twist in the tale. I thought that Raju was going to be humbled by the gods for impersonating a saint...or that too much rain would come and flood away his temple. This didn't happen - and I suppose it shows restraint on Narayan's part. But I think the novel could have been even better with such a finishing flourish.
The set-up for this tale is engaging: a man leaves prison, hoping to re-integrate with society unnoticed...but ends up being mistaken for a holy man and becomes the centre of undesired attention. I enjoyed the comment made about the madness of herd mentality (there's a wonderful scene at the end where the people are scrambling to find spare water so that Raju can stand knee-deep in a river - in order to pray for rain to end a drought).
I agree with a previous review that perhaps too much time was spent on the Raju/Rosie romance...they are such strong characters, however, that the narrative manages to sustain their story arc without too much strain. What I admired most, I think, was the spiritual side to the story - not just the spiritual dedication of the villagers but aso the spiritual journey forced upon Raju. In the end, you get the sense that he almost believes in something for the first time in his life.
What I was hoping for, though, was a twist in the tale. I thought that Raju was going to be humbled by the gods for impersonating a saint...or that too much rain would come and flood away his temple. This didn't happen - and I suppose it shows restraint on Narayan's part. But I think the novel could have been even better with such a finishing flourish.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
R K Naryan was a rare Gem in the literary world. All his books are excellent and must read for anybody who can read English.
Its specially nice for people who would like to know what Rural India was.. The relationships, the environment, the society - each and every aspect is explained in such an amazing and interesting way that you feel you are there when things are happening - you are transformed to places and situation's.
Even if you are not interested in India, still its a great read. The way Narayan handles the language is must read to believe. You would have never imagined that simple stories and sitatuation's can be explained so beautifully.
Once you start reading the book you cannot stop infact you will end up reading the books again and again as i do ( which i do not do with any other books )
Its highly recommended to buy all the Novels / Books of R K Narayan
Srini Guru
Its specially nice for people who would like to know what Rural India was.. The relationships, the environment, the society - each and every aspect is explained in such an amazing and interesting way that you feel you are there when things are happening - you are transformed to places and situation's.
Even if you are not interested in India, still its a great read. The way Narayan handles the language is must read to believe. You would have never imagined that simple stories and sitatuation's can be explained so beautifully.
Once you start reading the book you cannot stop infact you will end up reading the books again and again as i do ( which i do not do with any other books )
Its highly recommended to buy all the Novels / Books of R K Narayan
Srini Guru
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I have to disagree with the other reviews who all seem to acclaim this as the best book ever.
The book has some amazing good points.
It has a brilliant description of life in rural India when it narrates Raju's childhood.
It has a endearing central character who you will understand and love.
The moral seems to be simple yet strong.
However the book gets a little boring when describing the relationship between Rosie and Raju. I found my self skipping whole pages in which the author spent forever recounting their encounters whilst putting the story on hold. Save for this annoying feature, the book was a great read and i would recommend it to anyone.
The book has some amazing good points.
It has a brilliant description of life in rural India when it narrates Raju's childhood.
It has a endearing central character who you will understand and love.
The moral seems to be simple yet strong.
However the book gets a little boring when describing the relationship between Rosie and Raju. I found my self skipping whole pages in which the author spent forever recounting their encounters whilst putting the story on hold. Save for this annoying feature, the book was a great read and i would recommend it to anyone.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
All his books are great!
I have red almost all of his books and they are all very good. I can recommend his work to everyone who loves tales and stories. Read more
Published on 2 April 2001 by Marie-Cicile Widdershoven
A deeply personal read.
What a wonderful book! A great story, both in it's spirituality and it's simplicity. It is so revealing of human nature, and shows the great influence of self-image and the view... Read more
Published on 29 Mar 2001 by akiernander@hotmail.com
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