Collected Short Stories

by Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond wrote his first short story, 'Untouchable', at the age of sixteen, and has written memorable fiction ever since. He is famous not only for his love of the hills, but for imbuing the countryside with life and vibrancy through moving descriptions. The simple people who inhabit his stories evoke sympathy and laughter in equal measure. This wonderful collection of seventy stories, including classics like 'A Face in Dark', 'The Kitemaker', 'The Tunnel', 'The Room of Many Colours', 'Dust on the Mountain' and 'Times Stops at Shamli', is a must-have for any bookshelf.

Genres: Short Stories, Indian Literature, India, Fiction

624 pages, Paperback

Published April 1, 2016

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

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This massive collection truly encompasses the full range of topics and characters that Bond has written about. The variety, in terms of personalities depicted in these stories bring not just the once sleepy Himalayan foothills, but the entire country, with changing landscapes and passing time, alive.
Recommended.

[Hiren Vasoliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's huge collection of short stories, and not a single story is boring. Whenever i feel low i read one of the story. Everyone should read these stories once.

[Anuradha Cherukuri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Collection of Short Stories by one of India's most Celebrated Authors, Ruskin Bond. It has some beautiful stories from the Hills of North India, dealing with the Animals there. There are some eerie stories about the ghosts, also. An interesting and captivating read.

[Apurva Mujumdar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warm and fuzzy after reading this. So many stories were revisited after school and other stories made me feel like going back to school :)

[Surabhi Diwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There really couldn’t be a better place to talk about Ruskin Bond’s stories than right here – in the hills. The rustling leaves, the mountain air, the quiet charm… it’s like walking straight into the world he writes about.

This collection of short stories by Ruskin Bond is soaked in nostalgia and warmth. Each story is like a little comfort blanket – they all left me with a smile at the end. There’s something incredibly soothing about the way he writes – simple, yet deeply touching.

He brings the hills to life – from grazing cattle to quiet mountain paths, from ghost stories tucked away in the shadows to tales of grandparents and superstitions. There’s even a story about why we snap our fingers while yawning – things we’ve heard from elders but never questioned.

The book is a beautiful time capsule – you’re taken back to an India of Anils and Sunils, to the days just after independence, and during the emotional Indo-Pak divide. Some of the stories are inspired by his own life – especially his relationships with his father, his mother, and childhood friends.

It’s a book that’ll melt your heart, slowly, softly – without drama, without noise.

And if you’re looking to ease into reading or just need something light yet meaningful, this one is a must-read. Just pick one story a day – it’s enough to make you fall back in love with reading.

[The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruskin Bond the writer you are 🛐
He know how to pull the right heart strings by his words to make the most beautiful song. This book is filled with short stories which feels like short snippets of the author's life. Going through this book we also get to see one of the best writer in English of India growing as a writer. This book made me cry, laugh, pause, angry or simply staring at the wall. I couldn't be more grateful for this awesome emotional rollercoaster. One thing about Ruskin Bond is, he will take the little-est and simplest things of life and make them your world, will open your eyes to see them with a new perspective which will make you love every chapter of life and nature wholeheartedly. Now, I will always look at the Himalayan range from my city's bridge differently. Thanks to you Mr. Bond 🫶🏻

[Vijay Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply in awe of how easily Ruskin Bond takes you to those small cities or hill stations or to that small room of his. Some stories are not only heartwarming but tell tales of young Indian male and females , their innocence and their simplistic ways of living. One of the best read ever if you want words to drive your imagination.

[Sephali]

Good

[k r e e t i k a ~` · Rating 5 out of 5]

🙌🏾 roller coaster ride.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful collection. A nostalgic feeling of childhood.

[Neeramitra Reddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feel warm, fuzzy and nostalgic

[Anubhab Majumder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Strangely realistic ..

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of Ruskin Bond's short stories. Very interesting, you can't not make time in your schedule to read this book.

[Abhisht Indulkar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ate it up as a kid because it was a bit precocious for me, don't think all that highly of it now...

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took a loooong time to finish!

[Tanusree Das · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best when it comes to short stories after Gogol and O.Henry!Took me to my childhood days..গল্পদাদু as he is named..he is undoubtedly my fav 007..."...and when the war is over a butterfly will still be beautiful"