The Writer on the Hill: The Very Best of Ruskin Bond

by Ruskin Bond

One of India's finest and most prolific writers, Ruskin Bond has been putting pen to paper for well over six decades. Since The Room on the Roof his award winning debut novel which introduced readers to the unforgettable Rusty, the orphan from Dehradun - Bond has created characters both charming and eccentric, which have endured in popular imagination. And, in what is perhaps his most towering achievement, Bond has brought to pulsing life the mountains, valleys and rivers of Garhwal, as well as the quiet magic of small, tucked away places, in book after book

The Writer on the Hill is a comprehensive selection of Bonds fiction and non fiction. In Masterji, a young man meets his old Hindi teacher on a train platform, in handcuffs. In the excerpt from The Room on the Roof, Rusty stands up to his bullying guardian. Man and Leopard describes, in mesmerising prose, a heartbreaking encounter between man and the wild. And, in Once upon a Mountain Time, Bond creates a charming portrait of his little patch of earth in Mussoorie.

A tribute to one of the most popular and loved writers of India, The Writer on the Hill is also a celebration of the quiet, unhurried life, lived at ones own pace. This volume will delight Bond fans everywhere.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, India, Anthologies, Indian Literature, Childrens

408 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Ruskin Bond is an Indian author of British descent. He is considered to be an icon among Indian writers and children's authors and a top novelist. He wrote his first novel, The Room on the Roof, when he was seventeen which won John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written several novellas, over 500 short stories, as well as various essays and poems, all of which have established him as one of the best-loved and most admired chroniclers of contemporary India. In 1992 he received the Sahitya Akademi award for English writing, for his short stories collection, "Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra", by the Sahitya Akademi, India's National Academy of Letters in India. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1999 for contributions to children's literature. He now lives with his adopted family in Landour near Mussoorie.

Reviews

[Upendra R · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could mark this as legendary, I would. Ruskin Bond's description of the Himalayas, the people of the mountains, the trees, the birds, the sounds and so much more are so immersive that it leaves you with a longing to be in his stories. If you haven't seen the Himalayas before, you will still experience it through his words. You will long for an experience of the mountains yourself.

[Rushati Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had never read Ruskin Bond before, except a few scattered bits of fiction here and there.This book gave the struggling suffocated reader in me a new lease of life. I particularly enjoyed the non-fiction works; they were beautifully written, evoking the mellifluous nostalgia of the hills. There is nobody quite like Bond in his ability to create an ambiance; reading "A Rainy Afternoon in July" was not very different from sitting in the midst of soft-falling rain on a misty hillside. His vast knowledge of the wildlife and flora of the hills shines through in the book, as well as his meticulous attention to detail and characteristic gentle humour. It's by turns engaging and distant, realistic and dream-like, probing and sympathetic. Watching Bond's style change over the years, going from rustic, dusty, bare-bones to softer, greener, more beautiful was the best part. His content changed too, from an emphasis on present characters and sketches to evocative recollections of the past.
I feel like a nine-year-old again. I feel excited to write. Isn't that the best thing a book could possibly do?

[Ajeet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of some fiction and non-fiction writings of Ruskin Bond. Some of the stories I have read already in his other books, yet I never felt bored. The book is divided into two parts, fiction works, and non-fiction. I found non-fiction writings not engaging enough though. Overall it's a good read. And if you are a bond fan, you will not be disappointed.

[Preetam Chatterjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

With Ruskin Bond. The Man who gave me so much,,,,

This anthology distills decades of his work into a single volume that feels like walking through the many rooms of his literary home. Stories, essays, sketches—each piece reminds you why Bond remains the gentle chronicler of Indian childhood, hillside innocence, and human quirks. What makes this collection beautiful is how it shifts moods with such ease: tender one moment, slyly humorous the next, and suddenly contemplative. Bond’s magic is in the way he turns small things—a butterfly, a harmless ghost, a walk to the bazaar—into portals of wonder. This book becomes a soft landing place for tired souls, proving again that good writing doesn’t need theatrics; it needs truth spoken quietly. The Writer on the Hill is like being handed a lovingly curated mixtape from Ruskin Bond himself—every track a memory, every note a sigh of the mountains. Most recommended.

[Jae · Rating 5 out of 5]

63 stories of Ruskin Bond's stories - fiction and non-fiction.

Narrated by Sagar Arya

Ruskin Bond takes us to the mountains of the beautiful Himalayan region where life is lived at a slower pace, and where we can hear the river flow, the sounds of birds, insects and wildlife without actually being there. This wonderful writer is able to lift the mood of the reader (or listener) and make the world feel calm and peaceful.

The beautiful, lilting voice of Sagar Arya adds to the pleasure of the experience. Sheer bliss!

[Kriti Modi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains the best collection of fiction and non fiction works of Ruskin Bond.

Bond is my go-to-writer for comfort on my bad days. He is an extremely prolific story teller and his books will leave you craving for himalayas and a cup of hot chocolate. His books are so close to nature that we can actually get a mental walk across the mountains and flowing stream of rivers. He was one author who helped me fall in love with books. The book are is positive ,it feels like there can be no negativity in this world at all.

A feel- good , simple ,nostalgic book and must read for all Bond fans! People who want to start reading ruskin Bond, this may be the best book to start with.

Though I didn't like the non fiction stories in this that much, but the fiction ones are pure bliss.

[Sayantika Kundu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bond's stories never deal with momentous events like the wars of nations or the politics of power. But yes, if you are looking for some stories that tell you about the sensuous delights of the day, or the silent blessings of the night, you might go for this one.
The book provides a collection of his selected fictional and non fictional work. The book starts with the short story - 'The Thief's story', which I found a little confusing as it does not match Bond's original story. The names of the characters have been changed and so are the words. Even the title ('The thief') has been altered. Apart from that the book does not have any flaw. The later half of the book consists of his selected non-fictional works, which somehow provides a peek into the events that might have influenced his fictional works.

[Raksha Bhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I belong to the category of people who devour Bond's writings, people whom he calls his soul mates and alter egos. He couldn't be more right when he calls us so, that is exactly the way he makes his reader feel with all the honeysuckles, whistling thrushes, cicadas, prose, poetry, friendships and solitude.

[Manoj Narayanan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Ruskin Bond is always a substitute for a journey to The Himalayas..

[Ansh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most heart-warming, poignant writers of our times. This anthology is no different from rest of his works- lucid, transports you to the places he weaves through his words.

[Shabna K Salam · Rating 4 out of 5]

My father used to scare me and my brother with a silly scary story which was extremely enriched with our own "colloquial" elements and his own style right before bed time for a long time back.We used to listen to it with utmost entusiasm even though hearing it for a hundredth time and screamed at places where he dramatically modulated his voice for the "grand" entry of the ghost itself.But only after reading this book I knew that my father's extremely localised version of this ghost story was purely based on a fictional story written by the great Ruskin Bond himself.....PLING....and the most funny thing behind this realisation is that even my father wasn't aware about this,that he was telling a Ruskin Bond classic❤️😝
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This particular edition is divided into 2 parts (fictional and nonfictional) and I personally liked the fictional ones more than the other.Certain phrases in the book put me into a "goosebump" action at times and I think now I have covered majority of his works including 'the blue umbrella' which was in my tbr for a long time.Highly recommended irrespective of any age group.
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#qotd Have you ever had a feeling of excitement like your heart just skipped a beat while reading certain paragraphs or lines??!!
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#aotd Well this one was for me.
"𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲,𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼,𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝘂𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁....𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗱𝗿𝘆?"

[Rajeev · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic Ruskin Bond piece. Bond has a very crisp style of writing, and more than once he puts across the view that, even though he writes for a living, he does it with a great deal of passion. In short, he loves what he is doing and that comes across in his works. He writes extensively about the Gharwal hills that he is so familiar with. After all that is the place that he has spend a major part of his childhood and youth. The love for the soil where he spend a large part of his life is clearly evident in this collection. Moreover, he paints a very eloquent picture of all the characters he has portrayed in these delightful stories. Highly recommended read.

[Surabhi Sharma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Ruskin Bond's writing and the way he crafts stories are relatable. This book has a collection of his best stories written throughout his career on various events. Most of the stories I have read previously in his other story collections or stand-alone.

The collection is good but if you have read his other collections you may not like to read it again.

[Sharayu Gangurde · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read most of his fiction yet the allure of reading Ruskin Bond never stops me from rereading his books. Here in this collection are some charming stories that I've enjoyed, cherished, memorized and remembered over my growing years. Among my favorites are The Cherry Tree that I studied in my school textbooks, two lovely heart tugging stories titled, The Eyes have it and The woman on Platform no. 08 simply moist my eyes even today as I read them again. Ruskin Bond is a sensitive soul and that is reflected in his writings. Some excerpts from his memories about his father and childhood also tug at our hearts. His charm suffuses all age groups of readers. This is a well-edited anthology. Much love to him for writing the way he does. I will always remain a Ruskin Bond fan.

[Lydia Loh · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was so much nostalgia and vivid imagery in this collection, some of the stories were borderline surreal.

I appreciated hearing about the author's experience of growing up in India in the 1900s, whether autobiographical or not. From stories about nature, the weather and war, to stories about trains, umbrellas and leopards, to pain, joy and death.

In particular, the way the author framed his perspective - that ranged from childhood, teenagers and young adulthood - in a playful, compassionate and nostalgic way, brought some wonderment to me.

He imparts wisdom without telling.

[Arpit Batra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book bit by bit, chapter by chapter, reflecting on each story or memoir of Ruskin Bond. I've read a lot of Ruskin's work, and the text of this book flows in a similar fashion, smooth and hilarious , leaving you with a smile. Divided into two sections , fiction and non-fiction, I must say that Ruskin Bond seems to have lived such a wonderful life that there seems to be little difference between the two. One thing I learned from this book was to acknowledge and appreciate nature more.

Pay attention to the sounds near you, the birdsong, the ticking of the clock, to flowers and other beautiful stuff in nature.

[Vishal Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful journey into the author's world, nestled in the hills. His simple storytelling captures the essence of the hills, making it a charming read. His observations paint a vivid picture of life in the mountains, leaving you with a sense of warmth and nostalgia. A perfect escape into the tranquility of nature through the eyes of a master storyteller. Highly recommended for those who appreciate the beauty of simplicity. :)

[Deepa Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book paints the mountains with such vivid detail that nature itself feels like an orchestra, playing a harmonious backdrop to everyday life. Through its pages, you can almost hear the wind, smell the pine, and sense the rhythm of the seasons. The author beautifully captures the simple yet deeply meaningful daily routines of mountain dwellers. It’s a gentle reminder that there’s profound beauty in living slowly and in tune with nature.

[Souvik Khamrui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruskin Bond is not just a prolific storyteller, he is a modern sage of the Himalayas. His knowledge of the society, hills, rivers and flora & fauna of the Himalayas particularly of Garhwal region is astounding. His wisdom reflected in this assorted collection of his fiction & non-fiction works. A must read.

[Niyatee Narkar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never felt like I could take even a mental walk through the forests of Himalayas and relish the harmony of flowing stream water in the ravines, resting langoors in the treetops, and follow the melody of a whistling thrush. Or a sneak into the adventures of hill people.
Not until I turned the pages of a Ruskin Bond book.

[Mani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as part of a Bond binge - and even though some of the stories in this collection are repeats of ones I'd already read in other books, the new ones were enjoyable and nice. If you love nature and romance (of the more ethereal and abstract kind), then you'll find these stories fun reading. Excellent for long lazy summer days, to be transported into the cool hills of Darjeeling.

[Laine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyable. Despite his writing in a time and place i have never known, the stories are so familiar and accessible that one almost feels like a casual observer in each scene. We can feel the summer heat and the winter’s chill just as easily as i can hear the birds or the sounds of barking deer and leopards. What a wonderful find this was!

[Kabir Advani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful read for Ruskin Bond fans and a great book for those who are new to Ruskin Bond's work. Full of vivid description about nature entwined with stories of the hills and rivers and people and leaves, this book will leave you longing for a visit with mother nature. This book shows the beauty in the little things, how simplicity is wonderful.

[Anisha Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

The daydreaming of the solitary cottage in the hills, looking and finding beauty in the most mundane of things, casually talking about tortured spirits that haunt and murders, and his general indifference for the humdrum of the metropolitans. We find all this and more in this anthology, a collection of around 60 shorts, of both fiction and non fiction.

[Manas Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

An affair with Mr. Bond’s writing that started in early days of school has been rekindled in adulthood; this is a wonderful compilation of snippets of his best works that’ll make you long for the Himalayan foothills and the ambience reminiscent of simple life in small towns of Northern India in simpler times.

[Atreya Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

You'll fall in love with nature (if you aren't yet).
It just can't get better than this, right here (I wish it does get).
Thank you Mr. Ruskin Bond
You inspire generations to take up reading as a hobby.

[Niyasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For those who love the mountains and the Himalayas in particular, this is a wonderful book to engage with the nature and the Himalayan life that the author is good at portraying. Ruskin Bond, by indulging himself with the characters and their lives, gives the reader a melancholy feeling.

[Rachita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Ruskin Bond's style of writing. Esp. enjoyed the story 'The blue umbrella'. The way he brings out the nuances of human character makes his writing so interesting. Also, his non-fiction prose is simplistic, yet elegant and beautifully written. His writing transported me to Dehradun.

[Radhika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a lovely, comforting read- exactly what Ruskin Bond always delivers! I loved the fiction stories even more than the delightful, meandering non-fiction. Can't wait to get my hands on another Ruskin short stories omnibus!

[Emil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading Bond with a collection of his short stories about love, and I hated those, but I gave him a second and a third chance, and now that I've found his nonfiction work I can say that, frankly, I'm charmed by it. The man absolutely excels at semi-plotless slice of life stories.