Mr. Sampath: The Printer Of Malgudi

Eating groundnut in court is also a wish, came to know only by reading it. live picture of Indian social lives with male mental agony for struggle to achieve creativeness in life. superb !

Very simple story. Nothing special about it. Print quality was also not great

Handle the book delicately. The binding is flimsy.

absolutely fabulous, brings back my school-days

Goo use

It's pretty old

Good

quality is good. nice book.

Three Novels by R. K. Narayan is comprised of three short novels, Mr. Sampath-The Printer of Malgudi, The Financial Expert and Waiting for the Mahatma. All of the novels are set in the fictional Indian city of Malgudi.Having recently read A House for Mr. Biswas, I was somewhat familiar with many of the cultural and lifestyle practices of the Indian people and this collection is very similar in style and content to that earlier noted work by V. S. Naipaul. Narayan is one of the most widely read and critically acclaimed Indian writer and this is, by all accounts a sampling from one of his most productive periods.In Mr. Sampath- The Printer of Malgudi, we are presented with an industrious, young newspaper publisher who falls in with Mr. Sampath, the printer of his periodical. Through a series of circumstances and machinations, our young publisher is swept along in a whirlwind of characters and events that ultimately leads him to the pinnacle of success as a movie screenwriter before the obvious house of cards predictably comes crashing down.In The Financial Expert, we are introduced to a sly, manipulative money lender who has eked out a modest living on the backs of his clients. Desirous of greater wealth and riches, the loan shark experiences a completely unexpected and inexplicable financial windfall which changes his life completely. In the background of this major career move is the relationship between he and his family, including an incorrigible and ne'er-do-well son.The final novel in the collection, Waiting for the Mahatma, follows the story of a young man in Malgudi, living with his grandmother, who has come into his modest inheritance. He soon falls under the spell of a young woman who is a member of Gandhi's entourage. In an attempt to ingratiate himself with the young woman, the man becomes a follower of Gandhi and works toward Indian independence, though one wonders whether his heart is really in the effort or he is merely going through the motions in order to stay on the good graces of the woman he is pursuing.Each of these novels, set in the mid-20th century, displays a rich tapestry of Indian culture and mores, many of which are almost beyond the understanding of modern, Western minds. Written by a native Indian, in the midst of both the struggle for Indian independence and the rigid caste system, the stories indicate the near inevitability and predictability of an individual's effort to better one's self and improve his/her station in life.

The three novels gathered in this omnibus edition make an excellent introduction to the works of Indian writer R.K. Narayan. The novels all take place in the fictional Indian city of Malgudi. They each offer a mix of wisdom, comedy, pathos, tragedy, romance, and action."Mr. Sampath" is a coming-of-age novel but one with a particular Indian twist. The main character Srinivas is sensitive but immature, but he isn't lost or even dissatisfied. He needs to be prodded unto the path towards manhood by his elder brother. Maturity is acceptance of one's lot but by participating actively in the world around us.(Full review: http://www.amazon.com/review/RTLQDSWW758JX/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm )"The Financial Expert" is a comic novel about an unsympathetic swindler who is nevertheless mature and wise in his own way. We might not like him but it's difficult not to empathize and understand him.(Full review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R13JRCPQAS18D3/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm )"Waiting for the Mahatma" is a modern historical novel of India achieving independence. Narayan wrote it soon after the events and Indian history serves as a backdrop to the story of a young couple in love; they in turn can be seen as symbolizing India and the Mahatma. Narayan paints an intimate portrait of India rather than an epic canvas.(Full review: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ZKYGNE4CQQBY/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm )This is a gorgeous edition by the way. Cloth bound hardcover book printed on acid free paper and with a bookmark ribbon attached. It feels good to hold and smells nice.Vincent Poirier, TokyoLinks to separate editions of each novel: Mr. Sampath: The Printer of Malgudi The Financial Expert (Phoenix Fiction Series) Waiting for MahatmaMr. Sampath: The Printer of MalgudiThe Financial Expert (Phoenix Fiction Series)Waiting for Mahatma

.R K Narayan provides the most complete view of the Indian soul to the outsider, with his many novel all set in the town off Malgudi. Admired by Graham Greene , I am sure you will enjoy this collection of the novels by one of my favorite authors and an excellent introduction.

Just what I wanted. Excellent condition.

One of the greats.