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R. K. Narayan
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Malgudi Days (Penguin Classics) Paperback – August 29, 2006

by R. K. Narayan (Author), Jhumpa Lahiri (Introduction)
4.4 out of 5 stars 3,010
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Four gems, with new introductions, mark acclaimed Indian writer R. K. Narayan's centennial

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." Composed of 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, revealing the essence of India and of human experience. This edition includes an introduction by Pulitzer Prize- winning author Jhumpa Lahiri. 

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.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Classics
  4. Publication date
    August 29, 2006
  5. Dimensions
    5.06 x 0.54 x 7.77 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0143039652
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0143039655
  8. Lexile measure
    910L
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

R. K. Narayan (1906-2001) was born in Madras, South India. He is best-known for his vivid fictional recreation of urban India in the Malgudi series of novels. His 1958 novel The Guide won him the National Prize of the Indian Literary Academy, his country's highest literary honour. In 1980 he was awarded the A.C. Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature and in 1981 he was made an Honourary Member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Classics; First Edition (August 29, 2006)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143039652
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143039655
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 910L
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.54 x 7.77 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 3,010

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R. K. Narayan

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
3,010 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

C. E. Stevens
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, deceptively complex stories
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2015
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I had the good fortune to read Malgudi Days a few weeks ago while traveling in India for the first time ... I certainly cannot claim to be an expert on India, but I felt like Malgudi Days captured the spirit of India in a few short pages at a time better than thousand page tomes or hours-long miniseries ever possibly could. The hope and heartbreak of the common man and woman (although, unfortunately, the woman's perspective usually takes the back seat), the constant teetering on the knife's edge between riches and ruin, the cruel twists of fate ... although there is something concise and light about Narayan's writing style, many if not most of the stories have a rather dark side to them. In spite of this, the stories are compelling page-turners, as the reader immerses him- or herself into the charismatic town of Malgudi, which itself is arguably the main protagonist of this work.

Despite the short length of the stories, taken as a whole there is a kind of haunting beauty--despite the grit and calamity--that sticks with the reader long after they finish this work. Compelling, unforgettable, vibrant and yet tinged by a hint of sadness ... a bit like India itself, dare I say?
13 people found this helpful
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Anika Browne-Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars Master of the ordinary.
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2013
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R. K. Narayan's 'Malgudi Days' is a collection of short stories about the lives of ordinary men and women in an imaginary south Indian village called Malgudi. In this collection the writer proves himself a master of the ordinary; capturing the rhythm of the daily lives of his characters in mundane but oddly compelling pur suits. The stories are keenly descriptive and each character driven narrative subtly draws the reader into a world of craftily developed personal relationships. 'Malgudi Days' presents human experiences that create their own meaning in interconnected personalized realities.
One person found this helpful
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SALIMAN Karine
5.0 out of 5 stars Narayan's short stories : simply delightful
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013
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Jhumpa Lahiri summarizes it all in her introduction to the collection of short stories. Those short stories are very easy to read. They have a natural flow in them. Narayan brings his reader into the heart of an India which is neither idealized nor criticized. Under a simple, clear language and well-wrought little plots, a whole complex world comes to life. Adding all these short stories one to the other builds a colossal portrait of the universal man and of the post-colonial India. A real jewel.
3 people found this helpful
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Francis Maes
5.0 out of 5 stars A great discovery
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2013
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I discovered these stories, of a writer I did not know before, on Jhumpa Lahiri's recommendation. Since I love everything she writes and considering that she is an absolute master of the short story herself, I had every faith in her recommendation. Everything that she writes about these stories in her foreword is true. Narayan is a wonderful writer. All these stories combine succinctness and precision with a human and symbolic resonance that is truly exceptional.
3 people found this helpful
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Tiffintime
5.0 out of 5 stars Swami and his friends are a favourite of my family as as his other novels
Reviewed in the United States on October 9, 2015
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Swami and his friends are a favourite of my family as as his other novels. I will only be repeating myself in my praises. They always inspire me to write in a direct way without worrying about the outcome.
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bookaholic
4.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2014
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I have always loved shoet stories. This reminds me of Jan Karon's Mitford series just that the stories do not revolve round a central character. I got lost in Maulds and did not want to come home.
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Venkat
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning imagery with minimal fuss
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2015
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I could not put down the book. And, this was the second time I read this collection of short stories. His simple writing style belies an extraordinary vocabulary, conveying incredible richness with a minimal use of words. Astounding!
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The Goose
4.0 out of 5 stars Set of simple short stories
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2012
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I love R.K. Narayan's books because of the simple but fascinating stories. His language skills were phenomenal allowing him to hold his audience spell bound. This book is no different.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Subhankar Pal
5.0 out of 5 stars Back to my childhood 💙
Reviewed in India on February 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great storyteller! One of the classics 🔥
Malgudi days 💙
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Subhankar Pal
5.0 out of 5 stars Back to my childhood 💙
Reviewed in India on February 10, 2024
Great storyteller! One of the classics 🔥
Malgudi days 💙
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One person found this helpful
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vic
1.0 out of 5 stars hmmmm
Reviewed in Italy on September 24, 2021
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Me l'avevano consigliato ma non lo ricoprerei. Noioso, l'inglese è arcaico, tocca sempre stare su translate, le storielle noiose, senza un finale sensato. No.
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MoNa
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2020
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Great book
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mag
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 11, 2015
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A great little book to take along anywhere. A compilation of fascinating, short stories that are sure to leave one thinking and pondering much longer on each story. Wonderfully written with minimum emotional words, sharp descriptions. A benign observer's view of ordinary lives narrated without judgement. Highly recommended reading.
3 people found this helpful
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August Party
3.0 out of 5 stars ジュンパ・ラヒリはナラヤンが好き？！
Reviewed in Japan on November 26, 2008
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この本(1982年刊)の前書きでナラヤンは「小説を書き終えるとき、もう二度と小説を書くまい、と心に誓う」のだと書いている。そして小説とは違い「短編小説を書くことは作家にとって楽しみな気晴らしである」と。僕には少々意外な感じもしたけれども、それではナラヤンの短編小説が、軽く読み飛ばせる軽い書き物かというと必ずしもそうではなく、小説よりも神経を集中して読む必要があった。

　この『マルグディの日々』に収められた短編は、ぼくにどこかディッケンズの小説にあるリアリズムとヒューマニティを連想させた。それをインド味にしたてているのだけれども、僕がナラヤンに惹かれるところは、そのような世知辛い世の中と心温まる人情というよりも、人間の不条理にたいするヒンデゥ的寛容さのなだと最近思い始めていて、残念ながらそういうものにこの本ではあまりおめにかかれない(しかし、日本人にとってかなり分かりにくいカーストについて非常に納得のいく短編がある)。

ところで僕の買ったペンギン文庫版には今や人気作家であるジュンパ・ラヒリの緒言が添えられている。ジュンパ・ラヒリがナラヤンについてどういう感じをもっているのか、はなはだ興味のあるところだ。ジュンパ・ラヒリの文章は、ナラヤンの小説世界への温かくこころのこもった誘惑であるのだけれども(どんな忙しい人でも一日に十数分をさくことで、ここに収められた短編小説を一ヶ月で読め、ナラヤンの素晴らしい小説に出会えるという)、故郷を喪失し漂流する人間のより所として愛を描くジュンパ・ラヒリは、ナラヤンが実に丹念にマルグディという空想の街・故郷を描きこんでゆくことへの驚きを述べているのが何ともジュンパ・ラヒリらしく印象深い。そして、ここはもう一度丁寧に読み返したいと思っているが、なぜナラヤンはタミル語ではなく、英語で小説書いているのかについて考察を進めている。外国語である英語で小説を書き続けるナラヤン、故郷の言葉を失って英語作家として成功しているジュンパ・ラヒリ。僕は、ふと村上春樹だって英語で小説を書けばもっと面白いのにと思った。
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