Author of the Week
R. K. Narayan
R. K. Narayan (10 October 1906 – 13 May 2001),
full name Rasipuram Krishnaswami Iyer
Narayanaswami, was an Indian writer, best known for
his works set in the fictional South Indian town
of Malgudi. He was a leading author of early Indian
literature in English, along with Mulk Raj Anand and Raja
Rao. Narayan's mentor and friend, Graham Greene was
instrumental in getting publishers for Narayan’s first four
books, including the semi-autobiographical trilogy
of Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts and The
English Teacher. The fictional town of Malgudi, Narayan's
mentor and friend, Graham Greene was instrumental
Narayan's mentor and friend, Graham Greene was instrumental in getting publishers for
Narayan’s first four books, including the semi-autobiographical trilogy of Swami and
Friends, The Bachelor of Arts and The English Teacher. The fictional town of Malgudi, was
first introduced in Swami and Friends. Narayan’s The Financial Expert was hailed as one of
the most original works of 1951, and Sahitya Academic Award winner The Guide, was
adapted for film and for Broadway.
Narayan highlights the social context and everyday life of his characters, and he has been
compared to William Faulkner, who also created a similar fictional town, and likewise
explored with humour and compassion the energy of ordinary life. Narayan's short stories
have been compared with those of Guy de Maupassant, because of his ability to compress a
narrative. However, he has also been criticized for the simplicity of his prose.
In a career that spanned over sixty years, Narayan received many awards and honors,
including the AC Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature, the Padma
Bhushan and the Padm Vibhushan, India's third and second highest civilian awards. He
was also nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of India's parliament.
Important Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._K._Narayan
https://www.britannica.com/biography/R-K-Narayan
http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/r-k-narayan-5285.php
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VukssWa9C8
Books By and On R.K. Narayan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DahwG-VwxWU
1. Narayan, R. K. (1955). The English teacher. Chennai: Indian Thought Publications.
823.914 NAR 010213
2. Narayan, R. K. (1958). The guide. Mysore: Indian Thought Publications.
823.914 NAR 010214
3. Narayan, R. K. (2004). Swami and friends. Chennai, India: Indian Thought
Publications.
823.91 NAR 009410
4. Narayan, R. K. (2006). My days: autobiography. Chennai: Indian Thought
Publications.
823 NAR 009408
5. Narayan, R. K., & Greene, G. (2000). The Bachelor of arts. London: Vintage.
823 NAR 018776
6. Narayan, R. K., & Iyer, P. (2010). Waiting for the Mahatma. Delhi: Penguin Books.
823 NAR 018468
7. Narayan, R. K., & Kampar. (2006). The Ramayana: a shortened modern prose version
of the Indian epic. New York: Penguin Books.
294.5922 NAR 009263
8. Narayan, R. K. (2002). Malgudi schooldays: the adventures of Swami and his friends.
New Delhi; London: Puffin.
823.912 NAR 003747 & 008329
9. Narayan, R. K. (2000). The Indian epics retold: the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, gods,
demons, and others. New Delhi, India; New York: Penguin Books.
294.592 NAR 019867
*****
Compiled by Library
Date: 3rd November 2016
