Classic tales from the O. Henry of Bengali literature SELLING POINTS Collection of short stories comprising of the zz most enduring works by Banaphool zz Translated into English for the first time by award winning translator Arunava Sinha zz There has been only one Banaphool . . . Now, at last, the Englishspeaking world can relish his work Sankar, author of Chowringhee THE BOOK Translated into English for the first time, these stories by legendary writer Banaphool cleverly explore how life s absurdities are negotiated through human relationships whether between friends or family, lovers or strangers. In the title story, a lovelorn boy waits earnestly in his hostel room for the arrival of his beloved, only to be greeted by a rude shock. In Conjugal Dreams , the fickle nature of love is at the centre of the story, as two newlyweds confront their respective old loves. In The Homecoming , an insurance agent travelling home by train for Durga Puja encounters a most unexpected co-passenger. In The Corpse , a harmless wager leads to very dramatic consequences. Moulded out of everyday occurrences and happenings, these sparkling vignettes range from poignant and tragic to whimsical and satirical. In these tales, Banaphool invokes a host of enduring characters even as he makes sharp observations about the human condition.

What Really Happened Stories

Literature & Fiction

Banaphool

Arunava Sinha (Tr.)

Contemporary

Penguin??Books

Banaphool—which means wildflower—was the pen name of beloved Bengali writer Balaichand Mukhopadhyay (1899–1979). Wildfire brings together forty-five short pieces by Banaphool that are brilliantly representative of his uncompromising, multifaceted talent. Stark and short, often much too short, some even cryptic, these stories often leave much of the narrative to our imagination. Here we find an irresistible grab bag: utterly whimsical tales, several ghost stories, a few morality fables, some bitterly critical political satires, and a number of stories that examine the plight of those neglected in or rejected by society. The  wildflower, Rabindranath Tagore had told the author, has no place in the porcelain vase, nor in the temple—it blossoms by the roadside, unnoticed, except by the creative vision. Identifying with it, Banaphool brings to our notice the worth of the marginal as well as the beauty of the mundane. The perfect introduction to a master writer, Wildfire will enchant and impress English-language readers new to Banaphool’s work.

Wildfire: And Other Stories (The India List)

Seagull Books

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Books by Banaphool