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A Song of Many Rivers
Between the boy and the river was a mountain. The thickly forested mountain hid the river, but I knew it was there and what it looked like…I had heard of it, of the fish in its waters, of its rocks and currents and waterfalls, and it only remained for me to touch the water and know it personally.The snowy Himalayas, where the Bhagirathi, the Mandakini and so many others arise, the towns and villages that lie by their banks, the legends and stories that are as immortal as these waters, all come alive in A Song of Many Rivers. Prepare to get swept away by the tales and narratives about these beautiful, majestic and beloved rivers in this collection of some of Ruskin Bond’s most compelling river stories.
- GenresNonfiction
104 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2016
11 people are currently reading
69 people want to read
About the author
Ruskin Bond
673 books3,550 followersRuskin 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.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 8, 2017
12 stories on rivers and mountains including adventure trips, the angry river from the master story-teller.
July 11, 2017
Writings of Ruskin Bond, the writer of the hills, are filled with love for the hills. Rivers flowing through the Himalayan glaciers are both intriguing and intimidating. No wonder Bond is not only in love with the hills but even the rivers that play on its laps. A Song of Many Rivers, is a compilation of the Bond’s river stories.
The sheer range of stories in this collection makes it damn interesting. Some of them fall under the category of travelogues. In the opening story A Song of Many Rivers introduces us to the Himalayan rivers. We know only of Ganga and Yamuna, but the writer also introduces us to their little known tributaries like Suswa. Sacred Shrines Along the Way takes us on the tour of the famous panch badris and panch kedars.
Wilson Bridge resurfaces in this collection. This was a bridge built by one British man called Wilson. He had married a local, who later committed suicide by jumping into the river from the very same bridge which Wilson had constructed. The stories surrounding this bridge have all the quintessential elements of Bond’s writings - setting amidst the nature and colonial period, eccentric Sahibs and guileless locales, a tinge of poignancy and traces of supernatural elements. Every piece in this book will be cherished by a Bond fan. The jewel of the crown is of course The Angry River. I have read this novella in another collection of Bond. But still it continues to enchant me. Combining tragedy and fantasy, thrill and helplessness amidst calamity, this story exhibits what a creative genius Bond is.
This collection is to be treasured by fans of Bond. I wish the typographical errors were avoided. Thought despite these errors Bond doesn’t disappoint.
The sheer range of stories in this collection makes it damn interesting. Some of them fall under the category of travelogues. In the opening story A Song of Many Rivers introduces us to the Himalayan rivers. We know only of Ganga and Yamuna, but the writer also introduces us to their little known tributaries like Suswa. Sacred Shrines Along the Way takes us on the tour of the famous panch badris and panch kedars.
Wilson Bridge resurfaces in this collection. This was a bridge built by one British man called Wilson. He had married a local, who later committed suicide by jumping into the river from the very same bridge which Wilson had constructed. The stories surrounding this bridge have all the quintessential elements of Bond’s writings - setting amidst the nature and colonial period, eccentric Sahibs and guileless locales, a tinge of poignancy and traces of supernatural elements. Every piece in this book will be cherished by a Bond fan. The jewel of the crown is of course The Angry River. I have read this novella in another collection of Bond. But still it continues to enchant me. Combining tragedy and fantasy, thrill and helplessness amidst calamity, this story exhibits what a creative genius Bond is.
This collection is to be treasured by fans of Bond. I wish the typographical errors were avoided. Thought despite these errors Bond doesn’t disappoint.
August 31, 2020
Ganga is the most important river of India. It originates in the glaciers of Himalayas and many other rivers join, flows into the plains before joining the Bay of Bengal. For the plains, Ganga has been the holy one, calm otherwise but swollen and aggressive during the monsoons. But in the hills, Ganga evokes a quality of mysticism. It has many worshiped branches, some calm, some aggressive . It has been the source of energy amidst the mountains for the ancient sages and the object for conquer for the British. All this and many other things form the core of this short book.
In the first half, A Song of Many Rivers talks about the origins of the Ganga. Bond talks about the various places they go through before forming the Ganga. Bond describes the towns which have come up on the banks of these rivers and the inspired constructions. Bond talks about the forests and the foliage, providing us with a visual treat through his writing.
In the second half, Bond gives us an experience from his own life. He follows it by an experience when the river gets angry, and concludes with an observation which can miss the common eye.
Ruskin Bond's writing needs no review. To keep things short, Bond weaves another book of short writings, this time around the river Ganga.
In the first half, A Song of Many Rivers talks about the origins of the Ganga. Bond talks about the various places they go through before forming the Ganga. Bond describes the towns which have come up on the banks of these rivers and the inspired constructions. Bond talks about the forests and the foliage, providing us with a visual treat through his writing.
In the second half, Bond gives us an experience from his own life. He follows it by an experience when the river gets angry, and concludes with an observation which can miss the common eye.
Ruskin Bond's writing needs no review. To keep things short, Bond weaves another book of short writings, this time around the river Ganga.
October 24, 2020
Ruskin Bond, yet again, casts a spell that mesmerizes the reader. A Song of Many Rivers is a collection of stories along the banks of rivers from his childhood as well as during his travel to the Himalayas. Mr. Bond, in the book, narrates the different faces of rivers and how one ought to enjoy them. The beauty of the book resides in the style of narration where he connects the reader to all forms of nature. Feelings such as happiness, anger, sorrow and astonishment felt by an individual with respect to rivers are illustrated charmingly. A quick read that one should never miss in a lifetime.
August 23, 2021
With such a vast set of choices, I didn't really know where to begin with Ruskin Bond. This turned out to be a fabulous choice to dive in. The stories are varied, and even when so short the characters so beautifully developed. My favorite in this collection was the story of Lilly and Krishan. The circumstances under which their bond developed was extreme, she escaping with nothing but her own life in a devastating flood and he showing up with no fanfare, providing exactly what she needs to survive. Sometimes when life strips you of everything, someone shows up with a lifeboat and a flute.
March 26, 2020
The stories during this book flow just like the rivers of the Himalayas. Ruskin Bond weaves emotions, adventures, awe for nature and deep respect for her forces within the easy-to-read stories. The book features a mixture of travelogues, fiction and childhood memoirs. Check this article about 40 Best Ruskin Bond Books!! https://dailybugle.in/ruskin-bond-boo...
August 20, 2021
Ruskin bond just transfers you to the world of this collection of stories, some are fiction and some are his real experiences by the power of his writing. The way he captures the essence of the nature is utterly brilliant. He never fails to touch the souls of the reader.
November 14, 2019
Excellent read.
Once again mr. Bond proves what a good story teller he is. The reader travels along him wherever he goes. A nice book indeed.
Once again mr. Bond proves what a good story teller he is. The reader travels along him wherever he goes. A nice book indeed.
February 7, 2024
Great short stories!
August 26, 2017
The stories in this book flow like the rivers of the Himalayas. Ruskin Bond weaves emotions, adventures, awe for nature and a deep respect for her forces in the easy-to-read stories. The book has a mix of travelogues, fiction and childhood memoirs.
May 1, 2018
Read the detailed review here - https://www.bookgeeks.in/a-song-of-ma...
December 6, 2016
Ruskin Bond’s books are always a treasure of experiences. The little amusements of life is captured luminously by the author. Ruskin Bond is able to strike a chord with his readers with another book that speaks about the vast range of North Eastern culture, atmosphere, rivers, forests, mountains and the mighty Himalayas of India. This book is not a regular Ruskin Bond’s ghost stories collection. This book covers the aspect beyond his regular flavor. This book contains the vivid details of rivers, mountains, forests, rains, etc…
A Song of Many Rivers is the first short travelogue of the author where he spent some quality time travelling the important rivers and shrines in the Northern India. This particular short story captures the vivid niceties of the rivers like Alakananda, Ganga, Bhagirathi, Yamuna, Jamuna, Suswa, Rudraprayaga, Nandaprayag, and such several places. Author not only explains the exquisiteness and tranquility of these rivers, but also includes the historical background of these important rivers. Especially, the story of the river Bhagirathi and how it merges with the river Ganga and what was the story behind it.
Further reading into the book, we get to read few more, yet interesting stories like the Wilson’s Bridge, From the Pool to the Glacier, Ganga Takes it All, Angry River and so on.
Read the full review here
A Song of Many Rivers is the first short travelogue of the author where he spent some quality time travelling the important rivers and shrines in the Northern India. This particular short story captures the vivid niceties of the rivers like Alakananda, Ganga, Bhagirathi, Yamuna, Jamuna, Suswa, Rudraprayaga, Nandaprayag, and such several places. Author not only explains the exquisiteness and tranquility of these rivers, but also includes the historical background of these important rivers. Especially, the story of the river Bhagirathi and how it merges with the river Ganga and what was the story behind it.
Further reading into the book, we get to read few more, yet interesting stories like the Wilson’s Bridge, From the Pool to the Glacier, Ganga Takes it All, Angry River and so on.
Read the full review here
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews