Ruskin Bond

As a writer, I have difficulty in doing justice to momentous events, the wars of nations, the politics of power; I am more at ease with the dew of the morning, the sensuous delights of the day, the silent blessings of the night, the joys and sorrows of children, the strivings of ordinary folk and, of course, the ridiculous situations in which we sometimes find ourselves.' We often view the daily happenings around us as ignorable; as things that aren't really worthy of being remembered, cherished or recorded. Little do we realize that these days make us who we are, becoming important milestones in our lives where we form eternal bonds, branch out of our comfort zones, experience our first heartbreaks, dream big dreams as well as get struck by failures. It is these ordinary days that contain things, people and moments, that are perhaps, the most magical entities in our lives. In Adventures in Reading, Ruskin Bond weaves together personal memories and his turbulent yet uplifting journey as a writer. His own experiences as well as the diverse characters in his tales teach us not just various lessons on human nature and relationships, but also to make the most of our daily lives.

'Samuel was a snail of some individuality. Some considered him to be the bad snail in the family, but that was because he did not listen to his elders and liked to do things on his own... Birds and butterflies recognized no man-made borders, so why should snails' If there is one thing that never gets old or boring or repetitive, it is stories that detail the shenanigans of animals. Often extremely entertaining, animals act in certain ways that are intriguing, wondrous and fascinating. In All Creatures Great and Small, Ruskin Bond brings us stories and personal essays that speak to this animal-human equation. He takes us into the world of ambitious snails, conniving eagles, monkeys that love hot baths, humans who befriend them and many other exciting tales

The Shadow on the Wall brings together Ruskin Bond's most chilling works of fright and terror. The twenty-one stories in this book include classics such as 'A Face in the Dark', 'The Chakrata Cat', and 'Susanna's Seven Husbands', along with a dose of eerie new tales that have never been published before. In 'The Shadow on the Wall', a young writer finds an unlikely first reader in a ghost; 'The Doppelg nger' is a creepy account of beings that occupy two places at once; 'Haunted Places' is a spooky look at the world around us. From horrifying stories of chance encounters with hill station spirits, hauntings in abandoned mansions, malignant and mischievous jinns and shape-shifters, to prets and Mussoorie's Bhoot-aunty, the twenty-one tales in The Shadow on the Wall showcase Ruskin Bond's talent as a master of horror fiction.

DescriptionSince he was a young boy, Ruskin Bond has made friends easily. And his mostrewarding friendships have often been with animals, birds and plants-bigand small; outgoing and shy. This collection focuses on these companionsand brings together some of Bond's finest nature stories and essays, bothclassic and new. There are leopards and tigers; bulbuls and owls; bears in themountains and elephants on a ship; wise old forest oaks and geraniums onbalconies; 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.

Unable to stand the whole weary and sordid business, Mr Fennimore hit upon a solution. Loading his revolver, he moved to his wife's bedside and shot her through the head.' It is the many myths and legends that make a place interesting. With the beautiful tales of nature's gifts, there exist stories of nature's wrath. There exist stories of spooky, haunted houses and of forests where ghosts dwell. There will be naysayers who will deny the existence of the paranormal, but it is the mystery of the unknown that attracts a traveller to a destination. In Legends of the Hill, Ruskin Bond puts together a selection of stories and personal essays that take us into this world of the unknown that lives among the majestic hills. From girls who disappear from dilapidated train stations and murder mysteries that remain unsolved, to lovers who live on as ghosts-a world of intrigue awaits This is a collection of the best spooky stories written by Ruskin Bond The book captures the element of mystery in the hill towns Contains a varied collection that'll appeal to kids and adults alike

'Heaven. Is that the real heaven-the perfect place with the perfect companion? And if you and I meet again, Dad, will you look the same, and will I be a small boy or an old man' Letters to My Father is a deeply personal anthology of essays that have made an impact on Bond's life. It talks of his father, his mother, his neighbours, his boyhood friends and his home. This book brings together the most beautiful and sometimes painful memories of the author's life in eloquent prose. From diary entries that were written during his early years as a writer, to personal correspondence with his family members, this book offers a deep insight into the delicate complexities of human relationships.

'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

She was there every morning, chasing butterflies, stalking squirrels and mynahs, her voice brimming with laughter, her slight figure flitting about between the trees.' Childhood memories are cherished by everybody. They are a reminder of a simpler time, a time when we easily appreciated the mundane, when excitement and joy were aplenty and when little caused us worry or even fear. Every experience of childhood is unique and special and only as adults do we realize how little we let come in our way to fully enjoying life in those days of unbothered pleasure. In And Girls Will Be Girls, Ruskin Bond anthologizes short stories and personal essays that speak to this unbridled delight. Whether it was a cricket match that changed a life, or an umbrella that became a friend, or nostalgia over old love-this book has something for everybody

The tiger approached the bars and allowed Grandfather to put both hands around his head. Grandfather stroked the tiger's forehead and tickled his ear, and, whenever he growled, smacked him across the mouth, which was his old way of keeping him quiet.' Animals can teach us more about love than we like to admit. They can often be exactly what you need after a long, hard day. A dog greeting you at the door, a cat curling up next to you in bed, are joys that are incomparable. They are intuitive, large hearted and often can be extremely amusing and can spark curiosity in humans. In Grandfather's Private Zoo, Ruskin Bond brings together stories and personal essays that speak to this animal-human equation. He takes us into the world of talking crows, tigers who become your best friends, monkeys with an affinity for pearls and many more such amusing, often emotional, tales This is a collection of the best of Ruskin Bond stories and essays written by him over the years. The book captures the spirit of childhood days. Contains a varied collection that'll appeal to kids and adults alike.

Experience the very best of Ruskin Bond's writings in one book. If only the world had no boundaries and we could move about without having to produce passports and documents everywhere, it really would be 'a great wide beautiful, wonderful world', says Ruskin Bond. From his most loved stories to poems, memoirs and essays, Writing for My Life opens a window to the myriad worlds of Ruskin Bond, India's most loved author. Capturing dreams of childhood, anecdotes of Rusty and his friends, the Ripley-Bean mysteries, accounts of his life with his father and his adventures in Jersey and London among others, this book is full of beauty and joy-two things Ruskin's writing is mostly known for. With a comprehensive introduction, this is the perfect gift to all the ardent readers and lovers of Ruskin's effervescent writing. A wide collection of carefully curated and beautifully designed stories, this book is a collector's edition.

The steam engine shot out of the tunnel, snorting and puffing like a green, black and gold dragon, a beautiful monster out of Ranji's dreams . . . Fascinated by the midday train, Ranji would find himself waiting near the tunnel to catch a glimpse of the engine come roaring out of it. But the tunnel has more surprises for him. From a jungle full of lush green trees comes a timeless tale of unexpected friendship, curiosity, duty and wildlife. Peppered with delightful illustrations, Ruskin Bond brings to his readers another heart-warming story packaged as a charming chapter book-a perfect introduction for beginners to the world of India's favourite writer!

'But Miss Gamla did not like small boys. Or big boys, for that matter. She placed us high on her list of pests, along with monkeys (who raided her kitchen), sparrows (who shattered her sweetpeas) and goats (who ate her geraniums). We did none of these things, being strictly fun-loving creatures; but we did make a lot of noise, spoiling her afternoon siesta.' We often look back at our time as children and think about them as the good old days-days full of mischief, wonder, curiosity and adventure. These are the days when we form lifelong bonds and make memories that become our balm on the hard days that life throws at us. These are the carefree days of galivanting, letting your imagination run wild and formulating grand plans. In Boys Will Be Boys, Ruskin Bond puts together a collection of stories and personal essays that capture the magical days of childhood. From adventures with wild animals and running amuck in ponds to finding ways of surviving algebra, a world of adventure awaits This is a collection of the best of Ruskin Bond stories and essays written by him over the years. The book captures the spirit of childhood days. Contains a varied collection that'll appeal to kids and adults alike.

Walking through Delhi brings Ruskin Bond face-to-face with a host of colourful characters-the formidable Punjabi matriarch 'Bhabiji' of Rajouri who presides over her bustling joint family; Kamla who strikes up an unlikely friendship; Frank Brain of West Patel Nagar, of the curious name and curiouser life; feathered friends who have made the old city their own; and the 'Daryaganj Strangler' who has a special affection for the city's publishers. In this collection of short stories that is an ode to the spirit of Delhi, Ruskin Bond captures the people and the places with warmth and humour, and brings to life the magic of the city. This is a collection of the best of Ruskin Bond stories written by him over the years. The book captures the spirit of historical cities like Delhi and Agra. Contains a varied collection that'll appeal to kids and adults alike.

ALL TIME FAVOURITES FOR CHILDREN celebrates Ruskin Bond's writing with stories that are perennially loved and can now be enjoyed in a single collectible volume. Curated and selected by India's most loved writer, this collection brings some of the evocative episodes from Ruskin's life, iconic Rusty, eccentric Uncle Ken, ubiquitous grandmother, and many other charming, endearing characters in a single volume while also introducing us to a smattering of new ones that are sure to be firm favourites with young readers. Heart-warming, funny and spirited, this is a must-have on every bookshelf!

In a grey and frightened world driven to despair by the pandemic, Ruskin Bond's luminous new book, It's a Wonderful Life, cuts through the gloom like a blade of bright steel. His unerring eye seeks out the joys and positive truths to be found in the smallest of incidents that occur in our lives, the good news and sources of happiness that we often miss out on as a result of the anxiety and bad news that has pervaded our daily existence over the past year. Perceptive, uplifting, and deeply moving, It's a Wonderful Life is another triumph from one of our most beloved writers. This title is particularly relevant in the current pandemic when daily anxieties can far outweigh the joys of life. The positive and uplifting tone of this work casts light on the little bundles of happiness that go unnoticed in our busy lives. Ruskin Bond is a bestselling author whose writing appeals to readers of all ages.