Classic Mulk Raj Anand

by Mulk Raj Anand

‘Mulk Raj Anand writes about the Indians much as Chekhov writes about the Russians’— Elizabeth Bowen in Tatler One of the founding fathers of the Indian novel in English, Mulk Raj Anand is best known for the impassioned social critique contained in his writings. This omnibus edition brings together Anand’s finest novels which capture the ambivalence of a nation caught between tradition and Untouchable (1935), Coolie (1936) and Private Life of an Indian Prince (1953). In these acute and moving portraits, vitality of narrative accompanies brilliance in characterization.

Genres: Fiction

762 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2014

About the author

Mulk Raj Anand was an Indian writer in English, notable for his depiction of the lives of the poorer castes in traditional Indian society. One of the pioneers of Indo-Anglian fiction, he, together with R.K. Narayan, Ahmed Ali and Raja Rao, was one of the first India-based writers in English to gain an international readership. Anand is admired for his novels and short stories, which have acquired the status of being classic works of modern Indian English literature, noted for their perceptive insight into the lives of the oppressed and their analyses of impoverishment, exploitation and misfortune. He is also notable for being among the first writers to incorporate Punjabi and Hindustani idioms into English.

Reviews

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timeless classics. Wonderful prose and very touching story lines.

[Sriram · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I have ever read. Enjoyed the style of narration very much. All the three books contained in this omnibus (untouchables, coolie and Private life of an Indian Prince) are great works but I enjoyed the last one most. The hypocrisy and idiosyncrasies of the Indian way of life are excellently captures in these novels. An uncanny ability to look deep into the Indian soul and present it just the way it is is the best part of the book. However, the first two book was finished with a kind of NO ENDING. Leaves it to the interpretation of the reader to decide the climax.
Enjoyed it a lot and would certainly recommend the book to everyone who love English novels. As for me, some day, I will read it a second time.