R. K. Narayan Books

The title character in The English Teacher, Narayan's most autobiographical novel, searches for meaning when the death of his young wife deprives him of his greatest source of happiness.

This is the story of Nataraj, who earns his living as a printer in the little world of Malgudi, an imaginary town in South India. Nataraj and his close friends, a poet and a journalist, find their congenial days disturbed when Vasu, a powerful taxidermist, moves in with his stuffed hyenas and pythons, and brings his dancing-women up the printer's private stairs. When Vasu, in search of larger game, threatens the life of a temple elephant that Nataraj has befriended, complications ensue that are both laughable and tragic.

Here are three of R. K. Narayan's most famous and best loved novels: Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts and The English Teacher. All set in the imaginary Indian town of Malgudi, these irresistible works provide the perfect introduction to a universal world of humour, sadness, wisdom and joy.

Introducing this collection of stories, R. K. Narayan describes how in India "the writer has only to look out of the window to pick up a character and thereby a story." Powerful, magical portraits of all kinds of people, and comprising stories written over almost forty years, Malgudi Days presents Narayan's imaginary city in full color.

My Days is the only memoir from R.K. Narayan, one of the 20th century's most important writers in the English Language. In the wryly funny style that has made him famous, R.K. Narayan shares his life story.

Srinivas, editor of "The Banner" and its sole contributor, concerns himself with artistic and intellectual problems. Mr Sampath, its printer, amicably shoulders the financial burdens. When the paper folds - a surprise to them both - Mr Sampath sees a way to save an equable partnership.

For the centennial of his birth, R. K. Narayan's most celebrated novel Formerly India's most corrupt tourist guide, Raju—just released from prison—seeks refuge in an abandoned temple. Mistaken for a holy man, he plays the part and succeeds so well that God himself intervenes to put Raju's newfound sanctity to the test. Narayan's most celebrated novel, The Guide won him the National Prize of the Indian Literary Academy, his country's highest literary honor. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

A sweeping tale of abduction, battle, and courtship played out in a universe of deities and demons, The Ramayana is familiar to virtually every Indian. Although the Sanskrit original was composed by Valmiki around the fourth century BC, poets have produced countless versions in different languages. Here, drawing on the work of an eleventh-century poet called Kamban, Narayan employs the skills of a master novelist to re-create the excitement he found in the original. A luminous saga made accessible to new generations of readers, The Ramayana can be enjoyed for its spiritual wisdom, or as a thrilling tale of ancient conflict.

The Mahabharata is a narrative of profound violence and tragedy, so much so that many in India avoid keeping the full text at home, fearing misfortune. Spanning creation to destruction, this ancient poem is integral to Hindu culture and a significant work in ancient literature. Originating from various oral ballads, it evolved into a vast epic. The modern version is notably lengthy, exceeding 1.8 million words—seven times the combined lengths of the Iliad and Odyssey—making it daunting for many. However, R. K. Narayan’s skilled translation and abridgment offer a more accessible entry point for contemporary readers. This edition includes a new foreword by Wendy Doniger, along with a concise character and place guide and a family tree, making it suitable for a new generation. Doniger notes that Narayan’s storytelling resonates deeply because he grew up with these tales, allowing him to select the most fitting passages and translations. His elegant rendition distills a narrative that is both traditional and evolving, blending scholarly analysis with creative interpretation. The result is a translation that is clear and graceful, standing as a compelling story in its own right while serving as an adaptation of a larger work.