A venerable tiger, old and toothless now, looks back over his life from cubhood and early days roaming wild in the Indian jungle. Trapped into a miserable circus career as 'Raja the magnificent', he is then sold into films (co-starring with a beefy Tarzan in a leopard skin) until, finding the human world too brutish and bewildering, he makes a dramatic bid for freedom. R.K. Narayan's story combines Hindu mysticism with ripe Malgudi comedy, viewing human absurdities through the eyes of a wild animal and revealing how, quite unexpectedly, Raja finds sweet companionship and peace.

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 congenia l 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 Natara j has befriended, complications ensue that are both laughable and tragic.

Two comic gems from the father of modern Indian fiction- available in one volume for the first time These two novels show R. K. Narayan at his best, offering enchanting tales of human absurdity that are also skillfully woven parables infused with Hindu mysticism. A Tiger for Malgudi is told from the point of view of the tiger Raja, now old and toothless, who looks back on his life in the circus and in films, and on his dramatic bid to escape the brutish human world in a quest for freedom. The Man-Eater of Malgudi is the story of Nataraj, a mild-mannered printer who stands up to Vasu, a pugnacious taxidermist, when Vasu begins to covet the beloved temple elephant for his collection. 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.

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 congenia l 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 Natara j has befriended, complications ensue that are both laughable and tragic.

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.

Unforgettable Stories For Children From The Masterly Pen Of R.K. Narayan After The Stupendous Success Of Malgudi Schooldays, R.K. Narayan S Chronicle Of The Escapades Of Swami And His Friends, Comes Malgudi Adventures, Which Contains More Delightful Stories Of Children S Adventures In The Magical South Indian Small Town Of Malgudi. There Are The Memorable Stories Of Babu, Who, In Trying To Set Up The Lights For His Sisters Navaratri Display, Manages To Plunge The Entire Household Into Darkness; Of A Snake Charmer Boy Who Grows Up With A Monkey Named Rama As His Companion; And Of Raju, Who Decides To Become A Guide When A Train Station Is Built At Malgudi. Also Included Are The Fascinating Stories Of Balu, Who Dumps His Father S Accounts Ledger In The Gutter; Of A Little Boy Who Finds Himself Lost On The Streets Of Malgudi Late One Night; Of Chandran, Who Falls Head Over Heels In Love On The Banks Of The Sarayu One Evening; And Of The Hilarious Sequence Of Events That Unfolds When Raja The Tiger Decides To Seek Refuge In The Local School.

The Man-eater of Malgudi revolves around Nataraj, a mild-mannered owner of a small printing press, who leads a contented life with his circle of friends: a poet, a journalist, and Sastri, his assistant. One day, Vasu, a pugnacious taxidermist, moves into Nataraj's house, and soon begins to encroach on his life, scaring away his friends and customers. Nataraj is intimidated by Vasu, but when the taxidermist covets the beloved temple elephant to add to his collection of stuffed hyenas, tigers and pythons, Nataraj rises to the occasion.