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The Rupa Book of
Heartwarming Stories
Bond has picked stories that have been told with artless spontaneity and almost childlike simplicity. Yet, these draw the attention of the reader to the basic truths about life, death, afterlife, faith, etc. The stories weave complex concepts into the warp and woof of a simple narrative. This elevates the anthology to a collector’s gem. Several stories in this collection have been narrated from a child’s perspective and take us back to our own childhood untainted by the cynicism of adults. My Date with Graybeard by Robin Collins is the tale of a little boy from South Africa who is initiated into hunting at the age of eight. The boy decides to bring down a majestic grey bushbuck on his first hunt, but the fearless majesty of the buck stops him. "I knew I could not buy the hunter’s badge at the price of so much splendour," he says, symbolising the ideals of every young boy. The two stories that are especially touching are O. Henry’s The Last Leaf and That Which Remained by Bartimeus, as these symbolise the restoration of faith in the goodness of the human nature. The Rupa Book of Thrills and Spills is another collector’s item tat caters to the human craving for excitement and adventure. Ruskin Bond has, with `E9lan, put together stories that catapult the reader into a world of men and women caught up in death-defying escapades. Stuntmen, pilots, soldiers, explorers, aeronauts, medicine men, gamblers and lion-tamers enliven the pages of this anthology with their heroism. Each story brings forth a different facet of bravery. Rescue Squadron by Philip McCutchan and Four Men Against the Desert by A. P. Luscombe Whyte are true stories about the gallantry and never-say-die spirit of soldiers. Most protagonists are, however, ordinary men and women made extraordinary by their qualities of courage and valour. The story First Day in the Life of a Lion Tamer by Patricia Bourne is the true story of young woman determined to become a lion tamer. That a lioness attacks her on the very first day does not frighten her. She simply taps the beast on the nose and admonishes it for being a "naughty girl". Ruskin’s comments before every story add to the spicy treat laid out by this master anthologist. Ruskin is to be congratulated for editing two wonderful collections that are a veritable treasure trove for the young and the old. You have to agree with Bond when he says: "These are stories you can turn to again and again, as one turns to a favourite piece of music or a much loved picture." |
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