Publisher's Synopsis
A DELIGHTFUL COLLECTION FROM INDIA`S FOREMOST STORYTELLER, UNDER THE BANYAN TREE ADDS TWENTY-EIGHT TALES OF THE RICH AND COLORFUL HERITAGE OF R K NARAYAN`S FICTIONAL SOUTH INDIAN CITY, MALGUDI. NARAYAN`S CHARACTERS, OBSERVED WITH A WRY AND COMPASSIONATE EYE, COME FROM EVERY AREA OF INDIAN SOCIETY - MERCHANTS, BEGGARS, HERDSMEN, HERMITS, TEACHERS, ROGUES - AND REPRESENT IN MINIATURE A WEALTH OF HUMAN EXPERIENCE. A REBELLIOUS YOUNG MAN REFUSES TO HONOUR A VOW MADE BY HIS PARENTS IN AN ANCESTRAL TEMPLE LONG AGO IN NITYA. A SHOPKEEPER IS MADE BANKRUPT BY A CHARMING STRANGER IN A CAREER. IN OTHER TALES, A SCHOOLTEACHER INDULGES FOR ONE TRAUMATIC DAY IN THE LUXURY OF TELLING THE TRUTH; A NERVOUS SMALL BOY, FORCED TO SLEEP ALONE TO PROVE HIS COURAGE, CATCHES A BURGLAR; A BROWBEATEN CLERK TRIUMPHS OVER HIS STARS, AND A GHOST IS LAID TO REST. OUTSTANDING IN THIS SUPERB BOOK IS THE MASTERPIECE A HORSE AND TWO GOATS, DRAWN FROM A COLLECTION NOW NO LONGER AVAILABLE, AND THE MARVELOUS TITLE STORY, ABOUT THE DIVINE GIFT OF STORYTELLING ITSELF. LIKE THE STORYTELLER IN UNDER THE BANYAN TREE, R K NARAYAN IS AN ENCHANTER, A WEAVER OF WORDS WHO KEEPS HIS AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND WITH THE RHYTHMS AND HAUNTING IMAGES OF HIS TALES. DRAWN FROM THE MARKET-PLACE, THE MOUNTAINSIDE, THE DUSTY STREET, THE RIVER BANK, THESE GENTLE, IRONIC, FINELY OBSERVED STORIES OF VILLAGE AND CITY LIFE DEMONSTRATE THE POWER OF FICTION AT ITS BEST. एक बंडखोर तरुण त्याच्या आई-वडिलांनी त्याच्या लहानपणी पूर्वापार कुठल्यातरी देवळात जाऊन केलेला जुना नवस फेडण्याचा आदर करण्याऐवजी त्यांना नकार देतो... एक चलाख, चुणचुणीत दिसणारा तरुण मुलगा सगळ्यांवर छाप पडून विश्वास संपादन करतो आणि नंतर एका दुकानदाराचे दिवाळे काढतो... एक शिक्षक पालकांनी लाडावलेल्या लहान मुलाकडून अभ्यास करून घ्यायला येतो, पण तो मुलगा त्या शिक्षकाला अजिबात दाद न देता दुसऱ्याच गोष्टीत भरकटत ठेवतो...खुसखुशीत विनोदाची फोडणी असणाऱ्या आणि भोवतालाशी घट्ट वीण सांगणाऱ्या मालगुडीस्टाइल रम्य कथांचा संग्रह 'वडाच्या झाडाखाली आणि इतर कथा.'
