See buying choices for this item to see if it's one of the millions that are eligible for Amazon Prime.
Malgudi Days and over 300,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle – Amazon’s new wireless reading device. Learn more

22 used & new from $3.39
See All Buying Options
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
 
Malgudi Days (Twentieth-Century Classics)
 
 
Share your own customer images
Search inside this book
Start reading Malgudi Days on your Kindle in under a minute.

Don’t have a Kindle? Get yours here.
 
  

Malgudi Days (Twentieth-Century Classics) (Paperback)

by R. K. Narayan (Author) "Punctually at midday he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth..." (more)
Key Phrases: meek passenger, pension day, thirty rupees, Rajam Iyer, Market Road, Rama Rao (more...)
4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


5 new from $60.14 17 used from $3.39
Also Available in: List Price: Our Price: Other Offers:
Kindle Edition (Kindle Book) $9.99
Hardcover 10 used & new from $13.30
Paperback $15.00 $10.20 47 used & new from $8.00
Library Binding $25.80 $25.80 Order it used!
Unknown Binding Order it used!

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Unaccustomed Earth: Stories (Vintage Contemporaries)

Unaccustomed Earth: Stories (Vintage Contemporaries)

by Jhumpa Lahiri
4.3 out of 5 stars (175)  $10.20
Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies

by Jhumpa Lahiri
4.3 out of 5 stars (478)  $9.72
The Guide: A Novel (Penguin Classics)

The Guide: A Novel (Penguin Classics)

by R. K. Narayan
4.5 out of 5 stars (24)  $10.20
Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The Dark Room, The English Teacher (Everyman's Library Classics & Contemporary Classics)

Swami and Friends, The Bachelor of Arts, The Dark Room, The English Teacher (Everyman's Library Classics & Contemporary Classics)

by R. K. Narayan
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)  $18.25
The White Tiger: A Novel (Man Booker Prize)

The White Tiger: A Novel (Man Booker Prize)

by Aravind Adiga
4.0 out of 5 stars (232)  $8.40
› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
India's great novelist presents "a gallery of colorful characters" in this collection of short stories set in the mythical village of Malgudi. LJ's reviewer found the tales "compelling miniature gems" (LJ 4/1/82).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
A collection of 32 stories in which the author portrays an astrologer, a snake-charmer, a postman, a vendor of pies and chappatis - all kinds of people, drawn in full colour and domestic detail. The imaginary city of Malgudi springs to life, revealing the essence of India and of human experience.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics (January 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140185437
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140185430
  • Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #584,259 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Punctually at midday he opened his bag and spread out his professional equipment, which consisted of a dozen cowrie shells, a square piece of cloth with obscure mystic charts on it, a notebook and a bundle of palmyra writing. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
meek passenger, pension day, thirty rupees, road engine, ten rupees
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Rajam Iyer, Market Road, Rama Rao, Green Blazer, Vinayak Mudali Street, Venkat Rao, Market Gate, Senate House, Talkative Man, Ellaman Street, Kabir Street, Giant Wheel, Gymkhana Grounds, Sir Frederick Lawley, Krishna Hall, Lawley Extension, Vinayak Street, General Manager, Kukanahalli Tank, New Extension, Sri Rama, The Captain
New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats
Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Search Inside This Book:
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 12 books:
See all 12 books this book cites
 
30 books cite this book:
See all 30 books citing this book

Books on Related Topics (learn more)
 
 

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

Malgudi Days (Twentieth-Century Classics)
59% buy the item featured on this page:
Malgudi Days (Twentieth-Century Classics) 4.5 out of 5 stars (20)
Unaccustomed Earth: Stories (Vintage Contemporaries)
16% buy
Unaccustomed Earth: Stories (Vintage Contemporaries) 4.3 out of 5 stars (175)
$10.20
Interpreter of Maladies
13% buy
Interpreter of Maladies 4.3 out of 5 stars (478)
$9.72
The Namesake: A Novel
8% buy
The Namesake: A Novel 4.0 out of 5 stars (493)
$9.72
Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below.
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
(1)
See all 7 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
Help others find this product — tag it for Amazon search
No one has tagged this product for Amazon search yet. Why not be the first to suggest a search for which it should appear?
 

Customer Reviews

20 Reviews
5 star:
 (13)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (20 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars India calling, November 9, 2005
By Runa (Pune, India) - See all my reviews
Malgudi Days, a collection of short stories by R. K. Narayan happens to be my favourite book. The book is a compilation of different short stories that covers a plethora of emotions. It is the right balance between humour, and a dose of drama to cater to different moods of the reader. What makes this book unique is the simple, yet artistic narrative style, used by the author. The descriptions make the reader see the setting clearly. Add to it the perfect blend of beautiful Malgudi, with its rural charm and eccentric to ordinary characters, the narrative is complete. Most stories deal with normal people and their lives in a mainly middle class milieu in south India. In reality, Malgudi is an imaginary town set in the southern part of the country. But its description can be traced to any real town.

The tales come with sprinkling of gentle irony along with a humour. The endings are rather abrupt, which leave an indelible impression on the mind. The simple narrative that Narayan uses is his typical style. So, if you want to take a trip down south and explore the colours of India, you must indulge in the book and read it to your heart's content.

The stories deal with normal lifestyle of the middle class people in South India. Actually, Malgudi is an imaginary town in the southern part of India but its characteristics match with any real town. The tales come with a gentle irony and witty humour. The endings are rather abrupt and it leaves an impression in your mind. This way you are bound to think of them even after reading. The simple way, in which the book comes, is typical to Narayan.

So, if you want to explore the colours of India, you must indulge in the book and read them to your heart's content
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Revisiting the old classic.. Nostalgia makes it sweeter, August 25, 2004
I reread Malgudi days after 20 or so years! It was a delight just as it was when I read them the first time. Only this time; being in the US, made the Characters more endearing! Looking through the mist of time the village with all its sounds sights and smells looked prettier than a real one. This is a book for you all ex-pats to curl up on a snowy winter day with a hot cup of tea (even better if someone makes hot Pakoras to go with!) and enjoy.
To the non-Indian friends, may be a hot coffee and some chicken nuggets (or soy nuggets!) and winter days.
To the couple of readers who were disappointed! Well the whole point behind these stories is to capture the life as it flows. The climax is in the journey itself.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Believe me, the world I left behind is like this, May 3, 2004
Indian village despite its problems of scarcity of drinking water,electricity, poor sanitation, unemployment and lack of health care, holds a charm to all Indians. Mahatma appealed to all Indians to return to villages, Ambedkar asked Dalits to escape them.

More Indians now leave their villages than ever to come to cities.
However, even if they leave their village, its memory remains with them for rest of their life. People call it by different names. Author R K Narayan calls it Malgudi Days!

A delightful book.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
Having been a fan of malgudi days from childhood, this book was something I always wanted to read. And it din't disappoint. Read more
Published 9 months ago by shishir gowda

5.0 out of 5 stars Come, Come, Enjoy a Day-Trip to India
Malgudi Days by R.K. Narayan offers the reader a wonderful chance to experience the ordinariness and pleasant magic of life on the Sub-Continent. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Jarucia Jaycox Nirula

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Short Stories
R.K Narayan brings to life the people and places as he narrates the story. I would strongly recommend this book for the people interested in Indian culture.
Published 16 months ago by Venkata Chivukula

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Indian writers
This book is a collection of short stories written in very simple language. What really makes the difference is the connection it establishes with the readers. Read more
Published on October 10, 2006 by Anand Bhandari

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible stories!
Malgudi Days was my introduction to R.K. Narayan and frankly I have been wondering where he's been all my life. These stories are wonderful. Read more
Published on July 6, 2004 by CoffeeGurl

5.0 out of 5 stars amazing stories
R. K. Narayan is one of those authors who conveys a lot of expressions with a few words, and that is clearly displayed in Malgudi days. Read more
Published on November 22, 2002 by avi555

5.0 out of 5 stars Indian literature at its very best
Few people will contest the contention that R.K. Narayan is the best Indian writer in English. Malgudi Days is a collection of short stories centered around the fabled town of... Read more
Published on September 6, 2002 by Vijay Krishna

5.0 out of 5 stars awesome
Beautifully written. It's hard to find a writer who conveys so much without ever raising his voice!
Published on July 17, 2001 by Sukumar A. Srinivasan

5.0 out of 5 stars Great light reading!!
The short stories in Malgudi Days make great light reading. I carry the book with me when I expect to have a couple of minutes to kill. Read more
Published on May 7, 2001 by serveall

5.0 out of 5 stars Short stories...
This is a wonderful book of short stories that are funny and witty. He wrote them so they are not obviously funny, but in their own way, a secret beauty. Read more
Published on March 3, 2001 by favoritebooks

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
New! See all customer communities, and bookmark your communities to keep track of them.
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   

Product Information from the Amapedia Community

Beta (What's this?)

Look for Similar Items by Category

Great Deals on Magazines

Visit our huge selection of magazine subscriptions often to see the latest special offers and bonuses. Check out magazines like The New Yorker, Wired, and Vanity Fair.
 

Best Books of 2008

Best of 2008
Find our top 100 editors' picks as well as customers' favorites in dozens of categories in our Best Books of 2008 Store.
  

Buy Three Books, Get a Fourth Free

4-for-3 Books
Order any four eligible books under $10 and get the lowest-price book free in our 4-for-3 Books Store. See more details.
  

Best Books

Best of the Month
See our editors' picks and more of the best new books on our Best of the Month page.
  

 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.



Where's My Stuff?

Shipping & Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue shopping: Top Sellers
Paranoia
Paranoia by Joseph Finder
4.1 out of 5 stars (193)$0.00
 My Soul to Lose
My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent
4.3 out of 5 stars (3)$0.00
 Glenn Beck's Common Sense
Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck
3.8 out of 5 stars (259)$6.59
 Glenn Beck's Common Sense
Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck
3.8 out of 5 stars (259)$6.59

amazon.com Amazon.com Home  |   Directory of All Stores
International Sites:  Canada  |  United Kingdom  |  Germany  |  Japan  |  France  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Build an eCommerce Site  |  Advertise With Us  |  Developer Services  |  Self-Publish with Us
Help  |  View Cart  |  Your Account  |  1-Click Settings
Investor Relations  |  Press Releases  |  Careers at Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Conditions of Use | Privacy Notice © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates