Regarded as the first major Indian novel in English, Kanthapura is the story of how Gandhi's struggle for independence came to a casteist south Indian village. Young Moorthy, back from the city, brimming with new ideas, seeks to cut across ancient barriers and unite the villagers in non-violent action. The story emerges through the eyes of a delightful old woman who comments on the villagers' actions with sharp-eyed wisdom, evoking the spirit of traditional folk epics. With an introduction by R. Parthasarathy 'The finest novel to come out of India in recent years.' E. M. Forster 'The first literary manifesto to point to an Indian way of appropriating the English language.

Kanthapura is the story of how Gandhi's struggle for independence from the British came to a typical village, Kanthapura, in South India. Young Moorthy, back from the city with "new ideas," cuts across the ancient barriers of caste to unite the villagers in non-violent action--which is met with violence by landlords and police. The dramatic tale unfolds in a poetic, almost mythical style which conveys as never before the rich textures of Indian rural life. The narrator is an old woman, imbued with the legendary history of the region, who knows the past of all the characters and comments on their actions with sharp-eyed wisdom. Her narrative, and the way she tells it, evokes the spirit of India's traditional folk-epics. This edition includes extensive notes on Indian myths, religion, social customs, and the Independence movement (given at the end of the book) which fill out the background for the American reader's more complete understanding and enjoyment.

'A teasing comedy of manners exploring metaphysical themes'--- Telegraph The Cat and Shakespeare is a gentle, almost teasing fable of two friends. Govindan Nair, an astute, down-to-earth philosopher and clerk, tackles the problems of routine living with extraordinary common sense and gusto, and his refreshing and unorthodox conclusions continually panic Ramakrishna Pai, Nair's friend, neighbour and narrator of the story. This evocative novel brings alive the raw texture of Indian life, and delights in its humour. '[A] pathbreaker of Indian writing in English'--- Guardian