Description
“The Guide” by R.K. Narayan, is one of the most acclaimed novels by this renowned Indian author. Railway Raju is a disarmingly corrupt tourist guide, who lives by his wits and falls in love with a beautiful dance. More by chance than skill, he seduces her away from her husband, a lonely writer who is obsessed with local rock carvings, and transforms her into a celebrity courted by wealthy and influential dignitaries wherever she performs. Raju makes and loses a fortune, finds himself in jail, and – through a series of hilarious, ironic circumstances – becomes one of India’s great holy men. The history of his success and unexpected fame has all the excitement of a suspense story, told with Narayan’s customary tolerance and delightful humor. At the same time, it raises many profound and disturbing questions. “The Guide” floats as gently as a lily pad on the surface of Indian life and yet suggests the depths beneath. It manages to describe a saint who is neither born nor made but simply happens, almost like the weather.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.