Showing Books By Author : Ruskin Bond

Whispers of the Rain

‘In hot up-country towns in India, it is good to have the first monsoon showers arrive at night, while you are sleeping on the veranda. You wake up to the scent of wet earth and fallen neem leaves, and find that a hot and stuffy bungalow has been convened into a cool, damp place.’ As heavy monsoon winds begin to blow at the end of every summer, an entire country waits with bated breath. Once rain hits the parched land, the arid landscape slowly turns green. Humans, whistling thrushes, frogs, beetles and geckos—all rejoice. Whispers of the Rain is a collection of short stories that celebrates the ‘true spring’ of India—monsoon. Ruskin Bond’s descriptive, lucid and sensitive prose takes us through the dusty whirlwinds of the Gangetic plains, the whispering mists of Mussoorie and the thunderous Landour storms. This book welcomes you to embrace the fresh breeze of adventurous and rainy tales as seen through the master storyteller’s eyes.

The Big Book Of Mountain Tales

‘High in the spruce tree the barbet calls, heralding summer. A few puffy clouds drift lazily over the mountains. Is this the great escape?’ As we move along at a fast pace, there are very few things that offer solace from the hustle-bustle. Out of these things, there is nothing quite like the fresh mountain air or a breeze from the forest to revive one’s spirits and rekindle some hope. The Big Book of Mountain Tales gives you a chance to carry some of that mountain joy home with you. This collection of Ruskin Bond’s cherished stories is sure to transport you to the mountains and revive your sense of adventure. Bond’s evocative and engaging prose combined with some lively and vivid imagery are bound to bring a smile on your face.

Rain In The Mountains

The Land Of Many Colours

The bazaar is Indian, charming and quite prosperous: tailors sit cross-legged before their sewing machines, turning out blazers and tight trousers for the well-to-do students who attend the many public schools that still thrive here; halwais—potbellied sweet vendors—spend all day sitting on their haunches in front of giant frying pans; and coolies carry huge loads of timber or cement or grain up the steep hill paths.’ Diversity and variety in every aspect—food, culture, traditions, landscape—is a defining quality of India. Whether we talk about the festivals throughout the year, the delicious food found across the country or the intricate rituals performed in temples, India truly is a land of many textures, flavours and colours. The tales in The Land of Many Colours revolve around this vibrant diversity. This collection offers you the varied tastes and textures of India along with the imaginative brilliance of Ruskin Bond. Take a dive into the world of Bond’s evocative prose and heart-warming storytelling. Read less

Stories to Live By

Whether by accident or design, We are here. Let’s make the most of it, my friend. Make happiness our pursuit, Spread a little sunshine here and there.’ Whether it is during our school days, in adulthood or even in old age, our life is nothing but a sum of memories we’ve created with people. These memories, whether good or bad, hold the power to make us feel joy, love or grief—all of which makes us human. Stories to Live By brings you some loving and endearing stories which are sure to take you down memory lane. Indulge in the simple and wholesome charm of Ruskin Bond’s prose through this collection of tales that involves recollections of fun times with school friends, one-time meets with intriguing strangers and memories of times spent with one’s family.

The Hoopoe On The Lawn

From the master storyteller comes a wonderful new tale about friendship, eccentric relatives, ghosts, nature, and the enduring magic of childhood. Ruskin is eleven years old and visiting his granny’s home in Dehra during his winter holidays. Follow along as he takes you through the many things he experiences during his time there—a mischievous ghost hiding in an old peepul tree, delicious baked treats enclosed within a magic box, a man with a tin box containing odd knick-knacks, uncomfortable yet exciting tonga rides, surprising run-ins with Quit India protestors, the warm company of old Miss Kellner, pretty weeds that he calls ‘Purple Hearts’, and much else besides. Punctuating all these happenings is the hoopoe, a little bird with an attractive hairdo, which appears in granny’s garden at 3 p.m. every day, much to Ruskin’s delight. In The Hoopoe on the Lawn, Ruskin Bond weaves together a story of the joys of unexpected friendships, the beauty of nature, and the simple pleasures of being young.

The Great Train Journey

The first time I saw a train, I was standing on a wooded slope outside a tunnel, not far from Kalka. Suddenly, with a shrill whistle and great burst of steam, a green and black engine came snorting out of the blackness.. “A dragon!” I shouted. “There’s a dragon coming out of its cave!”’The charm of travelling by a train as it speeds its way out of a tunnel or a jungle and passes through nondescript villages and towns is unmatched. There also exists a joyful curiosity in unfolding the mysterious lives and destinations of its passengers.Ruskin Bond has been writing tales about the hinterland for decades, but this is the first time his stories revolving around trains and railway stations of small-town India have been brought together in a single collection. Classics such as ‘The Eyes Have It’ and ‘The Night Train at Deoli’ rub shoulders with tales of big cats taking refuge in railway tunnels and strangers who strike up a friendship while waiting at a platform.So, hop on and allow one of India’s greatest storytellers to steer you through the Great Train Journey.

Children Of India

My Trees In The Himalayas

‘I am fortunate to have a big window that opens out on the forest so that the trees are almost within my reach. If I jumped, I could land quite neatly in the arms of an oak or horse chestnut... These great trees of the mountains, I feel they know me well, as I watch them and listen to their secrets, happy to rest my head beneath their outstretched arms.’It is Christmas time and a poor couple struggle to buy each other gifts. A wealthy lawyer encounters a ragged beggar and tries to set him on the right path. A little boy’s grief on realizing that he will never be able to speak his mother tongue again after his country is invaded by another. A happy story, revolving around a mere folder, set in the lobby of a fashionable hotel. The evergreen story of the nightingale who sacrificed herself for a rose. Selected and compiled by Ruskin Bond, this is a collection of stories from writers like O. Henry, Saki, Oscar Wilde, Anton Chekov, Alphonse Daudet and others.Full of moments that range from joyous to heart-breaking, My Trees in the Himalayas will leave you mesmerized with its tales of the simple joys of life.

Mysterious Tales From The Hills

‘Intuition must be a family trait, because it came to me quite suddenly—the thought that Uncle Bill might be intending to poison me.’ The unknown is often something that piques the interest of a reader and a traveller. While legends and myths are universally liked, it is the tales of the locals that are rich in mystery and intrigue. These are the stories that add to the charm of the town and attract people from all walks of life. It could be anything—a local unsolved murder, a disappearance, a case of poisoning or unknown swamp creatures—Mysterious Tales from the Hills has something for everyone. If you have a healthy appetite for horror, a little spookiness and a whole lot of wonder, this book is for you!

Grannys Tales

‘Granny was a genius. You’d like to know why? Because she could climb trees. Spreading or high She’d be up their branches in a trice. And mind you When last she climbed a tree, she was sixty-two.’ You ask anybody who their favourite member of the family is, and their answer will be one of their grandparents. A grandparent’s capacity for love, the abundance of affection that they hold and share with abandon, make them the purest and the best people to be with. What is more, they entertain you with stories of a time past and sometimes, if we are lucky, they partake in crazy activities with us as witnesses. In Granny’s Tales, Ruskin Bond takes us through such stories of affection and tenderness, of grandpas being hilarious—fighting ostriches, building zoos in his backyard and tickling tigers. And the wonder that grandmas are—telling bedtime stories with flourish, witnessing us climbing trees for afternoon hilarity and teaching lessons that will help us in all. This book is the perfect dose of grandparent stories, for children and adults alike!

First Loves, Last Loves

‘What I liked about her was her smile. It dropped over her face slowly, like sunshine moving over brown hills. She seemed to give out some of the glow that was in her face. I felt it pour over me. And this golden feeling did not pass when she left the room. That was how I knew she was going to mean something special to me.’ The heady rush of a first love, or the comforting dependability of a love spanning years—no matter the kind of love you experience—it is sure to have a lasting impact. Even years later, the thought of their tender touch, sheepish smile and their invigorating gaze can bring a smile on your face. First Loves, Last Loves is a heart-warming collection of stories that depict such love and passion. Ruskin Bond’s emotive and provocative prose is sure to tug at your heart with its simple yet profound intensity. These stories bring you an amalgamation of the heady romances of youth and the calm that envelopes romance with age and experience.

Old Roads,New Roads

‘I believe that the journey is more important than the destination. But, then, I have never really had a destination. The glory that comes from conquering the Himalayan peaks is not for me. My greatest pleasure lies in taking a path—any old path will do—and following it until it leads me to a forest glade or village or stream or windy hilltop.’ Is there a feeling better than being on the road, with the wind whipping through your hair? It is perhaps only matched by the anticipation of roaming around a town you have never visited before— meeting interesting people and wandering around unexplored mohallas. In Old Roads, New Roads, Ruskin Bond brings together some of his best travel writing, chronicling tales of his many journeys to and from the hills, across towns big and small, meeting wise and amusing people. This book promises to remind you of the joys of stepping out into the great outdoors, exploring old roads and new ones.

The Gold Collection

The ten stories in The Gold Collection are among the finest ever written by India’s most beloved writer, Ruskin Bond. Some of them, including masterpieces like ‘The Blue Umbrella’, ‘Angry River’, and ‘Panther’s Moon’, were written early in the writer’s career, while others, such as ‘Rhododendrons in the Mist’ and ‘Miracle at Happy Bazaar’, are more recent. All of them remain as golden as they were when they first emerged from the master’s imagination. A collection that will be treasured by all those who love Ruskin Bond’s fiction.

Friends In Wild Place-Birds,Beasts And Other Compa

Since he was a young boy, Ruskin Bond has made friends easily. And his most rewarding friendships have often been with animals, birds and plants—big and small; outgoing and shy. This collection focuses on these companions and brings together some of Bond’s finest nature stories and essays, both classic and new. There are leopards and tigers; bulbuls and owls; bears in the mountains and elephants on a ship; wise old forest oaks and geraniums on balconies; a talking parrot and a tomcat called Suzie—and many more ‘wild’ and wonderful friends. Beautifully illustrated, this is a lovely gem of a book.

When I Was A Boy Scenes And Stories From My Childh

In this beautiful, heartfelt and often humorous mini-autobiography, beloved storyteller Ruskin Bond relives the days of his childhood and teenage. He writes of carefree days in the port city of Jamnagar where little Ruskin would read books upside down, wander into old palaces, go for rides on lurching boats and in swooping, looping aeroplanes, and listen to tall tales told by a loving ayah and a colourful cook. He also describes his schooldays in Shimla—being dressed up as Humpty Dumpty for his very first stage performance, making friends and planning pranks. He remembers his days in Delhi, where he lived with his father for one magical year when they explored monuments, cinema halls and shops selling ice-creams and comics. And he recalls his time in Dehra when he developed his love of reading and writing, cycled far and wide and loafed in the bazaar with new-found friends. Funny and imaginative, nostalgic and tender, this truly timeless book— embellished with lovely colour illustrations—is a record of a very special childhood.

The Girl On The Train

‘I thought of running away with Kamla. When I mentioned it to her, her eyes lit up. She thought it would be great fun. Women in love can be more reckless than men! But I had read too many stories about runaway marriages ending in disaster, and I lacked the courage to go through with such an adventure. I must have known instinctively that it would not work. Where would we go, and how would we live? There would be no home to crawl back to, for either of us.’ Seldom do we come across a person who leaves behind an impression on our very being. Call it being enamoured or moved, the memories we shared with them can catch us unawares even years down the line. It is not for the world to decipher what bond we shared and nurtured with them, or how real or surreal it was. This is our secret alone, meant to be kept close to the heart. In The Girl on the Train, we see tales of longing and lost bonds being traced again in Ruskin Bond’s simplistic narration. With these stories, you might once again walk down the memory lane of all those cherished moments gone by.

The Yellow Umbrella

‘What should he be like, this lost man? A romantic, a man with a dream, a man with brown skin and blue eyes, living in a hut on a snowy mountaintop… a man who owed allegiance to no one… who was his own master, who lived at one with nature knowing no fear. But that was not Major Roberts—that was the man I wanted to be.’ It is believed that the foundation of every good relationship—platonic or otherwise—is friendship. The familiarity and ease that grow in friendships is what get many of us through a hard day. But it is not just the long-lasting associations that help us through life; it is also the acquaintances that we collect along the way. People are a sum of parts—of ephemeral yet significant encounters, and enduring and monumental intimacies. What makes a person whole is all the parts of themselves— good, wonderful, bad, ugly. In The Yellow Umbrella, with the story titled the same that has never appeared in print before, Ruskin Bond takes us down memory lane with nuggets from his past. The parts that made him who he is: unattainable love, intriguing friends, sturdy companions and books that help us through a rainy day.

Listen to Your Heart: The London Adventure

'I followed my heart instead of my head. It is something I have done all my life.' Shortly before his eighteenth birthday, Ruskin embarks on a literary journey and reaches England after charting unknown waters. Greeted by the uncertainties of a new city, he muses over his loneliness, switches jobs, falls in love, befriends the ocean and relentlessly chases a big dream! What follows next is the metamorphosis of a journal entry into a novel as we time-travel to the fascinating events that led to the making of his iconic book, The Room on the Roof . Capturing memorable experiences from young Ruskin's life, Listen to Your Heart is an inspiration for aspiring young writers, a meditation on embracing fears, seizing every opportunity but most importantly living one's dreams.

Funny Side Up

2 In 1 The Rupa Book Of Heart Warming Stories & Wi

The Ruskin Bond Horror Omnibus

All about My Walkabouts

‘The adventure is not in getting somewhere, it’s the on-the-way experience. It is not the expected; it’s the surprise. Not the fulfilment of prophecy, but the providence of something better than that prophesied.’ The world has a lot to offer to the people who seek new experiences and are curious about the places, each distinctly unique, that makes up the world and the people that inhabit these places. Although one lifetime is not enough to visit and know every place in the world, we have books that introduce us to new cultures, foods and peoples. In All about My Walkabouts, Ruskin Bond offers us delightful stories from his travels around the world. From the stories from Indian hills, to the streets of London, to small towns in India like Mathura and Meerut, this book is for children and adults alike.

Friends of My Youth

‘I needed a friend but it was not easy to find one among a horde of rowdy, pea-shooting fourth formers, who carved their names on desks and stuck chewing gum on the class teacher’s chair. Had I grown up with other children, I might have developed a taste for schoolboy anarchy; but, in sharing my father’s loneliness after his separation from my mother, I had turned into a premature adult.’ There is no telling where friendships might be made and how. Friends of My Youth is a collection of short stories by Ruskin Bond on how little and almost seemingly insignificant incidents of life can lead us to the person in whom we may find a companion, a comrade. These are the stories of how unknowingly, at times, friends are found and how they help eliminate our loneliness or become partners in crime in our personal missions. Narrated with utter simplicity, the tales make for a delightful remembrance of the friends made in the early years of life.