Ruskin bond The room on the roof(Paperback)

The Room on the Roof is a novel by Indian author Ruskin Bond. It was Bond's first book, written when he was just seventeen, and it won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957.

The novel revolves around a young, orphaned Anglo-Indian boy named Rusty, who lives with his strict English guardian in the European part of Dehradun, India. Rusty feels suffocated by the rigid rules imposed on him and the lack of emotional connection with his guardian. Longing for freedom and companionship, Rusty runs away and finds a new life among a group of Indian friends who embrace him with warmth and joy.

He eventually rents a small room on the roof of his friend’s house and starts working to support himself. Through this journey, Rusty discovers the richness of Indian culture and begins to experience a sense of belonging and self-identity. The novel explores themes of isolation, self-discovery, friendship, and the clash of cultures.

Set in post-colonial India, The Room on the Roof offers a vivid portrayal of Indian society, with Bond's gentle yet evocative style bringing the characters and settings to life.