Tales from Malgudi

by R.K. Narayan

10 Stories from India's Foremost Storyteller

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, India, Asia, Indian Literature

90 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

R. K. Narayan is among the best known and most widely read Indian novelists who wrote in English.

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.

Most of Narayan's work, starting with his first novel Swami and Friends (1935), captures many Indian traits while retaining a unique identity of its own. He was sometimes compared to the American writer William Faulkner, whose novels were also grounded in a compassionate humanism and celebrated the humour and energy of ordinary life.

Narayan who lived till age of ninety-four, died in 2001. He wrote for more than fifty years, and published until he was eighty seven. He wrote fourteen novels, five volumes of short stories, a number of travelogues and collections of non-fiction, condensed versions of Indian epics in English, and the memoir My Days.

-Wikipedia & Amazon.co.uk

Reviews

[Daren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Ten short stories, all fantastic characters, all set in Narayan's fictitious town of Malgudi, a few hours from Madras in Southern India. For me they really are the perfect illustration of these Penguin 60s excerpt based books. These short stories each stand alone and require no previous knowledge or understanding, but have the usual Malgudi landmarks and a few characters are mentioned in passing across other stories.
They really are pleasurable reading.

[Ela B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of easy to read, cute short tales. They were enjoyable enough for me to consider reading other works from that author. If you are looking for an easy sneak peek into Narayan's work or a read to do on the fly, this is great

[Bryce Galloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first short tale (An Astrologer’s Day) finishes with a satisfying twist that also makes sense of the preceding pages. The next two stories also take surprising turns, not quite of magic realist proportions but almost. Lawley Road has a Pythonesque critical absurdity that I didn’t expect from an Indian writer, though that likely says more about my ignorance than anything about Indian literary traditions. The remainder of the stories are less surreal, narrative driven and allegorical. Sometimes the twist doesn’t come until the very last line, like the punch line to a long-form joke.

[Reenita Hora]

R.K. Narayan's Malgudi tales comprise some of my favorite literature. Quite unlike the fast-paced reading of today, this is really about literatture that slows things down and immortalizes a way of life in yester-India that we have perhaps lost for good.

[Koduvayur Harikrishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

RK Narayan sits right up there with the best in imaginative fiction. He is the Indian version of Tolkien, in terms of constructing an imaginary world (a town really, but one that has a milieu of its own) - and populating it with delectable characters who live and grow with the reader. His huge collection of simple stories about the everyday experiences of the residents of this city create such powerful imagery, it is difficult not to go looking for Malgudi, the town of his creation! Indeed, the popularity of his characters' adventures in Malgudi led to the creation of one of the most loved television series in India. For this reason alone it is worth reading the small book of ten short stories, all set in Malgudi. This is another of the Penguin 60s publication, and each story is a gem in terms of giving insights into human nature. RK Narayan, as was his wont, narrates without any prejudice or judgmental dictats. There is a gentle, inoffensive humour that runs right through this collection of stories. They range from human frailty to fears and aspirations, all told in a light vein. Some are outright funny, some wistful, some sad, but all of them, truly endearing. Be warned, read this book, and you will want to periodically read the stories again and again!

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these small snapshots of life within this made up town. The setting and the characters within it felt believable and natural, while being interesting to follow in a story. Some of the stories ended with a satisfying sense of justice with 'bad' characters arriving at a bad end, but others showcased a sense of forgiveness as characters let go of their anger. The stories therefore alternated between being gratifying and peaceful.

[Ryotskankichi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tales from Malgudi is a quiet, comforting read that made me slow down and appreciate the beauty of ordinary life. The stories are simple but thoughtful, filled with gentle humor and very human characters that feel real and familiar. Malgudi itself feels like a place you could easily wander into and stay for a while.

This is the kind of book you read in small doses and reflect on afterward—soft, observant, and quietly meaningful.

[Cillian Flood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some decent, but largely unremarkable stories. Most of my enjoyment stemmed from the novelty of reading about a culture I am less familiar with.

[Pravin Kumar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little outdated for now. But it is still nostalgic

[Advait · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books which makes you nostalgic about an era you have never witnessed.

[Coenraad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another gem in the Penguin 60s collection! These ten stories by R.K. Narayan come from two volumes from the 1980s. They depict ordinary life in India, and are infused with wisdom and humanity. Some are in a minor key, others have unexpected nasty twists, but most are delightful, sometimes gently mocking the seriousness of the bureaucracy or other aspects of Indian society. Narayan should definitely be investigated more widely!

Nog 'n juweel uit die Penguin 60s reeks. Narayan se verhale beeld gewone mense se lewens in Indië uit. Dikwels handel dit oor armoede of ander vorms van swaarkry; in ander gevalle skok sekere karakters se onaangename gedrag jou; maar dikwels is daar 'n milde humor waarmee die bisarre aspekte van die Indiese samelewing uitgebeeld word. 'n Oeuvre wat meer aandag verdien!

[Ian Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tiny book (90 pages, about two-thirds of a normal paperback) of eleven short stories set in the fictitious town of Malgudi in southern India. Each story centres around a different character from a variety of strata in society, some are narrated by the protagonist, others are told in the third person. Most of the stories have a twist in the last page or two. Some of the stories are a commentary on aspects of Indian life, while others are more like morality tales. They are told with dry humour and attention to relevant detail.

Given that the stories are very short and the book easily fits in a jacket pocket this is a great book to take while travelling, or when visiting friends and relatives, to fill in those idle moments.

[Rhys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even at this late stage I am discovering authors new to me who are warmly inspiring and fill me with enthusiasm for fiction. My most recent 'discovery' is R.K. Narayan. Wonderful short stories! Nearly all of them have a twist at the end of some kind, but the twists don't feel at all contrived. This small book is just a sample of his short stories, but it has certainly fulfilled its function. I now intend to obtain as much of Narayan's fiction as I can.

[Rudra Kapalin · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.K. Narayan is a legend. His work inspired me to break all boundaries while letting the story flow

[Liam O'Mahony · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has perfected the art of the short story.

[Nazreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great light commute reading.

[Zoe Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best kind of story telling, I wish I had a gaggle of children to read this out loud to.