Beastly Tales [Paperback]

Vikram Seth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

'Because it was very hot in my house one day and I could not concentrate on my work, I decided to write a summer story involving mangoes and a river. By the time I had finished writing 'The Crocodile and the Monkey' (in a cool room lent to me by a friend), another story and other animals had begun stirring in my mind. And so it went on until all ten of these beastly tales were born - or re-born. Of the ten tales told here, the first two come from India, the next two from China, the next two from Greece, and the next two from the Ukraine. The final two came directly from the Land of Gup. I hope you enjoy them and have a beastly time.' Vikram Seth.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Vikram Seth was born in 1952. He trained as an economist and has lived for several years each in England, California, China and India. He is the author of A Suitable Boy, which was an international number one bestseller, An Equal Music and several other novels. He has also written five volumes of poetry including Beastly Tales.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Phoenix Paperbacks (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753807742
• ISBN-13: 978-0753807743
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.5 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,005,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Beastly Tales" out of Print, AN INTERNATIONAL DISGRACE, January 19, 2001

By 

Daniel Plas "critical reader" (Nigeria) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beastly Tales from Here and There (Hardcover)

Everything is great about these poems. The rhymes are clever, beautiful and very often funny. In the tales the good wins from the bad, but after trial and tribulations, and always in unexpected ways. One of my favourite lines is about a goat and a ram: "They ate with pride as if to balance, their total lack of other talents". But quoting excellent lines would take about as long as the book itself.

These are not children's rhymes, but I read them to my sons of 10 and 13 years old and we all three have a great time.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PUBLISH THIS BOOK!, November 29, 1999

By 

Mr. Nobody "I-Read-1500-Pages-Per-Week" (far from the US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beastly tales from here and there (Paperback)

I wanted to buy this book for my nephews and nieces, but I am shocked to find it out of print. I believe it is in print in the UK, so I will try at amazon.co.uk but if it is not available there.... I strongly, urgently, furtively, unashamedly emplore you contact the publisher en masse, yelling PUBLISH THIS BOOK! with all your heart. It's a future classic by an great author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful!, September 14, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Beastly Tales (Paperback)

Traditional stories from all over the world told in rhyming couplets. I am amazed at the rhymes that Vikram Seth came up with to tell these tales....and that he says he wrote the first poem becuase it was too hot to concentrate on his (real?) work!
I have this is hardcover. It's a keeper!