A Gallery of Rascals: My Favourite Tales of Rogues, Rapscallions & Ne’er-Do-Wells

by Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is the most addictive and entertaining writer in modern Indian literature. The author of over a hundred novels and short-story collections, his fiction is especially celebrated for the unforgettable misfits, dreamers, small-time con artists, rapscallions, thieves and drifters who populate it.

Genres: Fiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published August 1, 2019

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

[Mridula Gupta · Rating 5 out of 5]

It did not take very long for this collection to turn into another one of those memorable books that provided complete entertainment to all my senses. The 'Unforgettable new stories' in the cover really delivers.
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'Tales of Rogues, Rapscallions and Ne'er-do-wells', this collection includes both new and old tales featuring protagonists that are slightly off the traditional path of what is an ideal character. Stories like 'Sher Singh and the Hot-Water Bottle', 'a man called brain', 'crossing the road' are the newer ones that fit in perfectly with the better knows tales such as 'Tigers for Dinner', 'The thief story' etc. The collection also features one of Bond's most loved stories- Susanna's seven husbands.
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Ruskin Bond has given these simple tales, his classic tone with funny one-liners and an atmosphere that mimics fun and frolic despite the dark theme. Bond takes us to realistic and relatable settings, giving us everyday characters to understand and enjoy their stories. The villains in this collection as diverse, in their crimes and circumstances.
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Bond brings in different motives for all that hate that exists in the human heart, and these motives are the most common ones- Love, hate, jealousy, power, money or just for the sake of it. He also blends in the events of everyday life seamlessly with fairy tales and other strange occurrences.
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I enjoyed this book much more than the enthusiasm my caption shown. Reading Ruskin Bond is such a comforting feeling, and If you love this author, I know you would relate to it too.

[Udit Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all it's impossible to avoid such a rogue title. I was little hesitant to pick this one by bond. But his magic never fails to amaze me. This is a collection of odd stories which leaves you with awe. I mean literally ruskin bond can write anything and everything for everyone.

[abhishek Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am no one to review a legend. But I thoroughly enjoyed some of the short stories.

[Abhinay Renny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was having a hard time choosing from the collection of Ruskin Bond. ‘Check this out, it’s the latest book,’ said the owner of Cambridge Book depot, the place at which, Ruskin Bond visits every Saturday.

Attractive cover and tongue twisters in titles, I picked it up. A gallery of Rascals: My favorite Tales of Rogues, Rapscallions, and Ne’er-Do-Wells.


This book is a collection of 30 odd stories and it’s not an easy read because Ruskin Bond’s reflective writing tempts you to put the book aside and reflect on your life. Ruskin Bond can talk about anything. Be it about the birds that perch on his windows, bottles that were laid on the table during winters and about the elders he hung out with during his childhood.

I’m a big fan of Ruskin’s uncle Ken. Tales of Ken are funny and nevertheless introspective. I discovered two tales of Ken, ‘ZigZag Walk’ ‘At Sea with Uncle Ken.’ Uncle Ken is a star and he brings out the joy in his life by doing nothing, literally ‘nothing’ all the time.

Then are the tales that included his Grandparents. ‘Grandfather’s private Zoo,’ had as many as stories as one could find. Ruskin’s observations have got him to write about the hornbill’s, the chameleon Henry, the crow Ceasar, and many more creatures. I enjoyed reading about these creatures through Ruskin’s observation.

Ruskin’s observations seemed to be unprejudiced. He’s curious about everything and his observation with reflections brings out the enjoyable prose.



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[Ekta Kubba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruskin Bond has concocted a number of memorable characters that sparkle with different shades of life. Be it the mischievous and curious Rusty; the bundle of innocence, Koki; the crazy uncle Ken; the disciplined and lonely Mr. Oliver; the naughty explorers, the 'Four Feathers'; the observant Miss Ripley Bean; the beautiful Miss Bun; the adventurous grandfather and the strict grandmother; a lonely old but a great friend Miss Meckenzie; the detective lazy inspector Keemat Lal, who emerges the quiet hero; a number of ghosts, spirits and jinns; and never to forget, Mr. Bond has portrayed beautiful friendships and the unforgettable relationship of a father and a son.
Here, Mr. Bond has brought together the most memorable villains from his stories. Some of these are unscrupulous, some are minor rogues, some have gone to the level of murderers, and some are loving reprobates. The book is a sublime compilation of stories of treachery, fraud, deceit and murder. This book is certainly an unputdownable one. Thrill is ensured.

[Jigyasa Hasija · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cozy book to read before going to bed. I have always loved small town stories from India. This is one of the best comfort books I have read. The characters that Bond spins up are so relatable. You can still find some of these characters here and there in your real life. One more thing I loved about this book is the sentiment of local people and the way of life during the Raj. I think I can really know about history when I know how was common life back then, and not just of kings and palaces. So this book provides a valuable insight into those times in a funny, witty and a very cozy way.

[Adin Myda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book. The way the book has been written, weaving in the stories of all these supposed "rascals" (😁) yet still makes one cherish them is just fantastic. His portrayal of emotions through words is seamless.

I, personally, recommend the book to anyone whose looking for a bit of fun and light fiction sprinkled with just the right amount of reality check.

[Wanderingg__soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I absolutely loved the cover of the book😍😍 It's so adorable😍❣️


This book is a collection of the best and favourite stories of rascals or not so good people written over the years by Ruskin Bond.
The book also includes three new stories written by him only for this book. When I say rascals or not so good people I don't mean murderers or criminals, I mean the people who were rebels, oddballs, rogues, petty thieves, rascals in their way!

I absolutely enjoyed all the stories and I must say all the 30 stories will make you laugh and you would want to go back to these stories time and again!

Bond's writing style is mesmerizing and so easy going at the same time.
I am definitely looking forward to reading more of his amazing work😍

And I definitely recommend this book to everyone 🌼🤗🎉

[Mehnaz Amjad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bond the best of narrator

Re read it for the 50th time, 8ne of the finest narrator of all times is Rusty.
The language is so simple yet it resonates deep within

[Mahima · Rating 4 out of 5]

no one who ever reads Ruskin Bond is disappointed with his writing. bringing some of his older characters like aunt ruby, uncle ken and grandfather, he weaves a lush tapestry of all these delinquent tales that we all enjoy so much - my favourites have been to everyone in which uncle en is involved, and of course, the popular story 'Grandfather's Private Zoo'!

[Era · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review was first published in The Era I Lived In. Please head to the blog for a detailed review.

The simplicity of Bond’s words, yet the profound impact each of his short stories leaves has been the main reason why I love returning to his books.

The book cover promises unforgettable new stories and that’s exactly what makes up the opening of this entertaining collection of 30 short stories.

Spanning for over a hundred years these stories feature villains of a variety of shades committing errors and crimes of varying degrees.

From flirtatious suitors of the author’s mother to his grandfather’s unusual pets to the local milkman to author’s uncles and aunts to jinns and prets (ghosts) this book has room for the rogues of all sizes, ages and personalities.

Ruskin Bond’s rascals are only rarely murderous types (though there are stories featuring cyanide and arsenic too).

Drawn by a variety of motives-love, hate, jealousy, envy, lust, greed, ambition, hunger for power or wealth or plain laziness, the characters in this book beautifully capture the fact how the villains make life so colourful.

I highly recommend this book if you are a Ruskin Bond fan or are looking for a fun, quick-paced, entertaining read.

[Rutuja Ramteke · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤A Gallery Of Rascals By Ruskin Bond❤
Ruskin Bond is the most addictive and entertaining writer in modern Indian literature. For the first time ever, a gallery of rascals brings together the most memorable rogues to feature in Ruskin Bond’s fiction. A few brand new stories—‘a man called brain’, ‘Sher Singh and the hot-water bottle’, ‘crossing the road’— headline this collection and rub shoulders with much-loved tales like ‘the thief story’, ‘The boy who broke the Bank’, ‘tigers for dinner’ and ‘a case for Inspector Lal’. thrilling and effortlessly readable, the thirty stories in this book show exactly why Ruskin Bond’s fiction is irresistible.
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I definitely agree, that his fiction is irresistible. I loved this book and that to, to the core. This amazing collection of 30 short stories where the stories are not only short and sharp but they were humorous and hilarious. As, I started the book, I could finish it within two days and I think each and every story has a huge potential which makes it more and more readable. Also, his writing is beautiful and equally easy to connect with. This was such an enjoyable read. I loved the book's cover too. I will highly recommend this book and I think it's meant for everyone!
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Rating: 4.5🌟

[Aruna Kumar Gadepalli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Master storyteller in this collection includes several anecdotes, stories that make the reader engross in the stories. Some of the stories are published elsewhere in the collection. Still enjoyed reading them.

[Sunjoy Shekhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always an undiluted pleasure to read Mr Bond!