Author

The story goes that when Somerset Maugham was a guest of the Maharaja of Mysore (while it was still a princely state) he asked: “How is it that I haven’t met Mysore’s famous novelist, Mr. R.K. Narayan?” The Maharaja’s English secretary is reputed to have given the order: “Find out if there is a famous novelist in Mysore. Consult the university vice-chancellor if necessary.”