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A horse and two goats. Stories.
Book by Narayan, R. K
148 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1970
48 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
R.K. Narayan
114 books1,931 followersR. K. Narayan is among the best known and most widely read Indian novelists who wrote in English.
R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja's College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based there. In 1958 Narayan's work The Guide won him the National Prize of the Indian Literary Academy, his country's highest literary honor.
In addition to his novels, Narayan has authored five collections of short stories, including A Horse and Two Goats, Malguidi Days, and Under the Banyan Tree, two travel books, two volumes of essays, a volume of memoirs, and the re-told legends Gods, Demons and Others, The Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. In 1980 he was awarded the A.C. Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature and in 1982 he was made an Honorary Member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.
Most of Narayan's work, starting with his first novel Swami and Friends (1935), captures many Indian traits while retaining a unique identity of its own. He was sometimes compared to the American writer William Faulkner, whose novels were also grounded in a compassionate humanism and celebrated the humour and energy of ordinary life.
Narayan who lived till age of ninety-four, died in 2001. He wrote for more than fifty years, and published until he was eighty seven. He wrote fourteen novels, five volumes of short stories, a number of travelogues and collections of non-fiction, condensed versions of Indian epics in English, and the memoir My Days.
-Wikipedia & Amazon.co.uk
R.K. Narayan was born in Madras, South India, in 1906, and educated there and at Maharaja's College in Mysore. His first novel, Swami and Friends and its successor, The Bachelor of Arts, are both set in the enchanting fictional territory of Malgudi and are only two out of the twelve novels he based there. In 1958 Narayan's work The Guide won him the National Prize of the Indian Literary Academy, his country's highest literary honor.
In addition to his novels, Narayan has authored five collections of short stories, including A Horse and Two Goats, Malguidi Days, and Under the Banyan Tree, two travel books, two volumes of essays, a volume of memoirs, and the re-told legends Gods, Demons and Others, The Ramayana, and the Mahabharata. In 1980 he was awarded the A.C. Benson Medal by the Royal Society of Literature and in 1982 he was made an Honorary Member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters.
Most of Narayan's work, starting with his first novel Swami and Friends (1935), captures many Indian traits while retaining a unique identity of its own. He was sometimes compared to the American writer William Faulkner, whose novels were also grounded in a compassionate humanism and celebrated the humour and energy of ordinary life.
Narayan who lived till age of ninety-four, died in 2001. He wrote for more than fifty years, and published until he was eighty seven. He wrote fourteen novels, five volumes of short stories, a number of travelogues and collections of non-fiction, condensed versions of Indian epics in English, and the memoir My Days.
-Wikipedia & Amazon.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 11, 2022
An extraordinary yarn, Narayan's ‘A Horse and Two Goats’ shows how language can be the barricade between two people, willing to converse with each other.
The miscommunication which happens due to being men of two languages, hails nuisance to both the American and Muni, the protagonist of the story. While Muni speaks Tamil, the American speaks in English. Both of them continues speaking to one another having no knowledge of what they interpret of each other's words, which brings confusion as well as humour in the story.
To begin with, while being driven out of home, Muni waits to return again, sitting on the pedestal of a clay statue of an enormous house. He is at once amazed seeing a red faced man, dropping down from a peculiar car, which he has never seen before. While the man nears the central character, willing to ask him where an oil station is nearby.
Muni is seized with fear, seeing, his Khaki dress. He supposes that a "policeman or a soldier" is standing up before him.
The man not knowing the ear in Muni's heart, looks amazed at the life-size statue of the horse. He presumes Muni to be the owner of the statue. He has come to India, just to "Look at other civilizations."
And finding the horse, fascinating, he at once decides to buy it from Muni and install it in his drawing room.
Muni scarcely realises the American's intention. Hence, he is astonished when the red faced man takes out "a hundred- rupee currency note" and hands over to Muni. He presumes that perhaps it is meant for asking change. He laughs to himself thinking that the foreigner has chosen a good person for a change, since Muni has never seen anything beyond the copper and nickel coins.
He thus, ineffectively asks the man to go to the "village headman" who can change even a lakh of rupees in gold sovereigns.
But presently the headman is up against Muni, thinking that he and his goats have stolen his pumpkin. While Muni points his goats, the foreigner interprets it as a sign of asking to pat the pets before he adieus. He does so and Muni feels elated thinking that his goats are finally sold out. He takes the foreigner as a prospective customer and happily returns home with the money "securely tucked away at his waist in his dhoti." The American on the other hand, uproots the statue, places it safely in his station wagon and finally disappears.
Back home Muni relates the miraculous sell of his goats to the "red-faced man". While his wife counts the notes, the goats stand outside their gate. Muni's wife opens the door, hearing the bleating sound. She turns enraged at once, thinking that her husband must have robbed the notes. Even she threatens to go to her parents if police comes to her house to "break" bones of her husband.
Muni stands helpless while his goats wriggle in his grip.
Thus, the story establishes how miscommunication leads to harsh misconstruction. The American however naively victimises Muni, failing to communicate with him.
Vintage Narayan !!
The miscommunication which happens due to being men of two languages, hails nuisance to both the American and Muni, the protagonist of the story. While Muni speaks Tamil, the American speaks in English. Both of them continues speaking to one another having no knowledge of what they interpret of each other's words, which brings confusion as well as humour in the story.
To begin with, while being driven out of home, Muni waits to return again, sitting on the pedestal of a clay statue of an enormous house. He is at once amazed seeing a red faced man, dropping down from a peculiar car, which he has never seen before. While the man nears the central character, willing to ask him where an oil station is nearby.
Muni is seized with fear, seeing, his Khaki dress. He supposes that a "policeman or a soldier" is standing up before him.
The man not knowing the ear in Muni's heart, looks amazed at the life-size statue of the horse. He presumes Muni to be the owner of the statue. He has come to India, just to "Look at other civilizations."
And finding the horse, fascinating, he at once decides to buy it from Muni and install it in his drawing room.
Muni scarcely realises the American's intention. Hence, he is astonished when the red faced man takes out "a hundred- rupee currency note" and hands over to Muni. He presumes that perhaps it is meant for asking change. He laughs to himself thinking that the foreigner has chosen a good person for a change, since Muni has never seen anything beyond the copper and nickel coins.
He thus, ineffectively asks the man to go to the "village headman" who can change even a lakh of rupees in gold sovereigns.
But presently the headman is up against Muni, thinking that he and his goats have stolen his pumpkin. While Muni points his goats, the foreigner interprets it as a sign of asking to pat the pets before he adieus. He does so and Muni feels elated thinking that his goats are finally sold out. He takes the foreigner as a prospective customer and happily returns home with the money "securely tucked away at his waist in his dhoti." The American on the other hand, uproots the statue, places it safely in his station wagon and finally disappears.
Back home Muni relates the miraculous sell of his goats to the "red-faced man". While his wife counts the notes, the goats stand outside their gate. Muni's wife opens the door, hearing the bleating sound. She turns enraged at once, thinking that her husband must have robbed the notes. Even she threatens to go to her parents if police comes to her house to "break" bones of her husband.
Muni stands helpless while his goats wriggle in his grip.
Thus, the story establishes how miscommunication leads to harsh misconstruction. The American however naively victimises Muni, failing to communicate with him.
Vintage Narayan !!
January 10, 2018
Brimming with RK Narayan's simplistic style of writing, with every story ending somewhat expectedly, but nevertheless leaving the reader with a sense of contentment.
June 20, 2024
I review it as a story that is in syllabus
As someone who was from ICSE board, this was one of the best stories. I am not sure why the syllabus was rationalized.
It was simple yet intricate. Humor was on point. The themes of language and cultural barrier, ignorance vs knowledge, poverty and how everyone has a fair share of own problems and desires was skillfully woven in a thread by RK Narayan.
I love the interaction between Muni and white man, followed by the confusion and misunderstands.
I recommend you to watch screen adaptation once you are done with the book. If you are Hindi speaker, I recommend you to watch it in Hindi first then Tamil. In first watch, you'll get what author wanted to tell in second you'll get what foreigner felt.
As someone who was from ICSE board, this was one of the best stories. I am not sure why the syllabus was rationalized.
It was simple yet intricate. Humor was on point. The themes of language and cultural barrier, ignorance vs knowledge, poverty and how everyone has a fair share of own problems and desires was skillfully woven in a thread by RK Narayan.
I love the interaction between Muni and white man, followed by the confusion and misunderstands.
I recommend you to watch screen adaptation once you are done with the book. If you are Hindi speaker, I recommend you to watch it in Hindi first then Tamil. In first watch, you'll get what author wanted to tell in second you'll get what foreigner felt.
November 24, 2012
This was an interesteing short story which can be analyzed on many aspects. The cultural clash is dominant. The American seems a bit snobbish with his fancy clothes and ignorant attitude, a stereotype of an American. He thinks he can buy everything for money, which in a way is quite funny.
The Indian though is quite sad. He's a sterotype as well, old, poor and uneducated, but full of wisdom and spirutuality.
We can also see the clash between materialism and spirutualism. Where the Amercian only thinks about buying the horse and the Indian caring about his community, about ledgends and wellfare.
The whole narrative can be seen as a metaphor for when the white man colonised India, not caring about the consequenses for the domestic people
The Indian though is quite sad. He's a sterotype as well, old, poor and uneducated, but full of wisdom and spirutuality.
We can also see the clash between materialism and spirutualism. Where the Amercian only thinks about buying the horse and the Indian caring about his community, about ledgends and wellfare.
The whole narrative can be seen as a metaphor for when the white man colonised India, not caring about the consequenses for the domestic people
February 5, 2021
A humorous short about miscommunications and cultural differences.
June 30, 2021
Ah the humour in miscommunication! I haven't read much by R. K Narayan, but I've loved his earthy stories and honest dialogue. This one is no less. Though quite predictable, this was a good read.
August 6, 2021
A humorous, short and interesting read
About miscommunication between an American and a Indian who doesn't know English ..
.
Very simple light hearted story
About miscommunication between an American and a Indian who doesn't know English ..
.
Very simple light hearted story
April 7, 2013
A small collection of short stories. A Horse and two goats is the name of the first short story which depicts village life in a frank and humourous way. I really enjoyed the story telling and it helped me understand a little better Indian culture. The latter stories were not quite as enjoyable but again intrigued me. Narayan is an excellent story teller and writes in a humourous fashion.
March 5, 2012
I'm not really sure what just happened. I think I enjoyed it but I'll have a better opinion on it after my class on it. It was easy enough to read when I wasn't confused as to who is speaking or what was happening. I really liked the ending though.
July 17, 2014
This is the best story of Narayan. I think the characters are the main beauty of the story. Yes, there is this constant battle between the Western and the Oriental and that again is beautiful. So, must read.
August 17, 2019
Please upload the book soon
January 14, 2020
Two goata and horse
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently reading
June 2, 2020really good!
February 1, 2021
delightfully enlightening monotony of life in a village
June 16, 2023
A fun tale with ephemeral relationships that nonetheless feel real and believable.
October 19, 2023
Lol I kinda fw this
January 16, 2013
Great collection of short stories pertinent to common village life but touching deep within the heart.
March 20, 2014
It is a story of both humor and satire.
September 12, 2016
R.K.Narayan is irreplaceable when it comes to short story-telling.
June 25, 2016
good book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2015
Rating : 3 stars
Want to read
June 21, 2018Two goat one horse story
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews