The Bachelor of Arts (Phoenix Fiction Series) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "CHANDRAN was just climbing the steps of the College Union when Natesan, the secretary, sprang on him and said, "You are just the person I..." (more)
Key Phrases: Krishna Iyer, Daily Messenger, Jayarama Iyer (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

"There are writers--Tolstoy and Henry James to name two--whom we hold in awe, writers--Turgenev and Chekhov--for whom we feel a personal affection, other writers whom we respect--Conrad for example--but who hold us at a long arm's length with their 'courtly foreign grace.' Narayan (whom I don't hesitate to name in such a context) more than any of them wakes in me a spring of gratitude, for he has offered me a second home. Without him I could never have known what it is like to be Indian."--Graham Greene

Offering rare insight into the complexities of Indian middle-class society, R. K. Narayan traces life in the fictional town of Malgudi. The Dark Room is a searching look at a difficult marriage and a woman who eventually rebels against the demands of being a good and obedient wife. In Mr. Sampath, a newspaper man tries to keep his paper afloat in the face of social and economic changes sweeping India. Narayan writes of youth and young adulthood in the semiautobiographical Swami and Friends and The Bachelor of Arts. Although the ordinary tensions of maturing are heightened by the particular circumstances of pre-partition India, Narayan provides a universal vision of childhood, early love and grief.

"The experience of reading one of his novels is . . . comparable to one's first reaction to the great Russian novels: the fresh realization of the common humanity of all peoples, underlain by a simultaneous sense of strangeness--like one's own reflection seen in a green twilight."--Margaret Parton, New York Herald Tribune

Product Details

• Paperback: 266 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226568334
• ISBN-13: 978-0226568331
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,232,079 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A young man finding his place in India, April 22, 2004

By	Michael Bond (Shawnee, OK United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I could identify with the main character as he completed his studies and began moving into the 'real' world. His spiritual journey, though not complete at the books end, was very interesting. The (paraphrased) line "they thought they were the first of their type and the last..", referring to his radical friends from his university days, struck a chord. We all slowly realize that our own well-used mold was indeed not broken after they made us. More followed. Alas, we all take our place in society and make the best of it.

Simply written and easy to read. I recommend it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Its good... as always, October 9, 2003

By	An avid reader - See all my reviews

I have read and liked R K Narayan's works in the past. I picked this one up just based on the fact that it was written by him. It was not recommended to me by anyone. And honestly i am so glad i did.
The main character is a student just out of undergrad and facing the decision of what ahead. In a very straight and simple manner Narayan portrays the character's struggles with choosing a career and then his foray into love. Its simple and yet extraordinary. BTW for those expecting a dramatic ending, don't. This book just ends. I had to turn the page to realise its finished :-)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A work of rare beauty, November 29, 2000

By	Manoj Nagulapally (Hanover, NH United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The bachelor of arts (Hardcover)

Probably the best work of RK Narayan, this novel has a beauty that transcends time and space. Its written in a simple and mellifluous style and yet, has an underlying profundity that is incomparable. Anyone can identify with Chandran, the protagonist as he goes through the emotions of love, hatred and detachment. And 'callous realism' - that one's for the ages. One can see RK Narayan, a true master at work in this novel.