A venerable tiger, old and toothless now, looks back over his life from cubhood and early days roaming wild in the Indian jungle.
Trapped into a miserable circus career as 'Raja the magnificent', he is then sold into films (co-starring with a beefy Tarzan in a leopard skin) until, finding the human world too brutish and bewildering, he makes a dramatic bid for freedom.
R. K. Narayan's story combines Hindu mysticism with ripe Malgudi comedy, viewing human absurdities through the eyes of a wild animal and revealing how, quite unexpectedly, Raja finds sweet companionship and peace.
‘Comedy worthy of Evelyn Waugh … wholly delightful’ – Scotsman‘His theme, man’s smug, foolhardy and essentially fragile arrogance, is illuminated in gentle comedy and skilful language, a style which makes simplicity appear deceptively easy’ – New Statesman
‘A small classic … Narayan’s humour has never been more observant or delightful’ – Observer
‘Memorably hilarious’ – Atlantic Monthly
‘Narayan sees the divine in the ordinary’ – Newsweek
