R.K. Narayan: An Anthology of Recent Criticism
Edited by  C. N. Srinath

This anthology, consisting of recent essays on R.K. Narayan along with two earlier but seminal studies, brings together some of the most perceptive critical responses to the oeuvre of this major Indian English writer. It wields a close revaluative focus on Narayan’s ‘scanty resource’ and ‘controlled art,’ his ‘intricate irony’ and ‘puckish humour,’ his indebtedness to Western and Indian narrative traditions, self-reflexivity and inter-textuality in his work, its projection of women as ‘markers of social change,’ its indigenization of language for cross-cultural significations, the appeal of its quaintly ‘familiar rhythm’ for Western critic, among other issues. The volume investigates and critiques a whole range of current critical positions on the major aspects of Narayan’s art and the specificities of his individual books.

C.N. Srinath , Professor of English at the University of Mysore, hold a Ph.D. degree from the University of Utah, U.S.A. Formerly Professor of English at Bangalore University, he was Fullbright scholar at the Universities of Chicago and Illinois (at Champagne) U.S.A. He was also Visiting scholar at the Universities of Brock and Toronto in Canada as well as at a number of Australian Universities. He was Rockefeller Resident Fellow at Ballagio in Italy in 1990. Professor Srinath has presented papers and participated in a large number of national and international seminars and conferences, and authored several articles published in India and abroad. His book-length studies include The Literary Landscape (1986), The Illumined Vision (1988), The Commonwealth Novel (1998) and two collections of poems. He is Co-editor of The Literary Criterion, Editor of Sarasa and Associate Director of Dhvanyaloka, Mysore.

Contributors : V.Y. Kantak, Patrick Swinden, K. Chellappan, Michel Pousse, Syd Harrex, Meena Sodhi, Lakshmi Holmstrom, Vineypalkaur Kirpal, C.D. Narasimhaiah, William Walsh R.K. Jayantha and Britta Olinder.
 
ISBN 81-85753-38-5           2012           192 pp           Rs.550 (hb)
 
Some of the best known commentators on Indian English Writing and R.K. Narayan are gathered here and one has only to dip into this volume to learn about the main contours of R.K. Narayan criticism.
The Journal of Indian Writing in English