Guide

Raju, a man with a knack for talking people into things, is the main guide at the railway station in the fictional South Indian town of Malgudi. His career takes a turn when he becomes entangled with Rosie, a dancer, and later when he is released from jail and takes shelter in an abandoned temple, where a village decides he is a holy man. The role he pretends to play gradually takes hold of him, leading to a fast for rain.

Readers who enjoy gentle comic novels with a moral edge will find it an easy entry into R.K. Narayan's work. It is a short, clear story for those curious about Indian small-town life.

Contemplative and thought-provoking; a moderate read.

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