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Bombay Stories (2000)

by Saadat Hasan Manto(Favorite Author)

3.77 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Random House India

review 1: Short stories set in Bombay and the nearby city of Pune, set mostly in some indeterminate period in the early 1900s (horse carriages are still a thing, but many of the characters work in the film industry). The characters are mostly gangsters and sex workers, poor factory workers and corrupt police, wannabe actors and struggling intellectuals, plus a heavy dose of stories narrated by Manto himself, which seem to be at least vaguely autobiographical. The stories were interesting, but I found many of them unfulfilling: too short and without anything meaningful to say about the characters or situation. Still, overall it's worth reading.
review 2: There is no doubt that Manto is brilliant. After having read Selected Shorts by Manto I looked forward to this book wit... moreh great anticipation. Not sure if it's the translation of the stories but something was missing. On the other hand the appendix holds three essays of his which are all pure brilliance. The introduction which is quite in depth is another wonderful aspect of the book. I just wish the stories were equally as strong as some of his other works. Some are, but most aren't. less

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