The World of Malgudi: Dynamics of Creativity and Social Ethos in R.K. Narayan’s Novels

The unprecedented recognition of R.K. Narayan requires a balanced approach to his fiction. In her stimulating study, Dr. Manju Roy has analysed all his novels showing how he has created magical fiction out of the socio-cultural ethos of a small Indian town. She shows how the fictitious town of Malgudi looks authentic, and how the people in their ordinariness of life become vibrant as they respond to the tradition to which they are bound, and, at the same time, negotiate with the winds of change. She competently illustrates their joys and frustrations, and the humour and pathos of the situations in which they are placed. Reading Dr. Roy's book is a rewarding experience.