Manto: Selected StoriesThe gentle dhobi who transforms into a killer, a prostitute who is more child than woman, the cocky, young coachman who falls in love at first sight, a father convinced that his son will die before his first birthday. Saadat Hasan Manto’s stories are vivid, dangerous and troubling and they slice into the everyday world to reveal its sombre, dark heart. These stories were written from the mid 30s on, many under the shadow of Partition. No Indian writer since has quite managed to capture the underbelly of Indian life with as much sympathy and colour. In a new translation that for the first time captures the richness of Manto’s prose and its combination of high emotion and taut narrative, this is a classic collection from the master of the Indian short story. |
Common terms and phrases
Abu’s Amritsar Anwar armpits ashram asked Babaji beautiful became become began Begum saab blouse body Bombay carriage chawl chest child cigarette clothes coach couldn’t dark Devika Rani dhobi dhoti didn’t doctor door eyes feel felt fingers gave Ghulam Ali Ghulam Ali’s girl’s God’s hair hand happy he’d head heart Hindu India Jallianwala Bagh Kafayat khadi Khaled Khaled’s Kishore’s kissed knew kurta laughed leave lips live looked Manto Marathi Marathi girl mind Momin motor car Mujib Mumtaz Muslim Nayaz Neelam Nesti Nigar night opened Pakistan panditani perhaps Raj Kishore Rajbhai Ram Khilavan Randhir Razia replied right cheek rupees saab’s Saadat Sadaq Sakina Salima sari Sarita Sarita’s mother satin Shah Daulah’s Shahab Shahzada Ghulam Shakeela singing Sirajuddin smell smile song story strange studio there’s thought told took turned Urdu voice wanted what’s wife woman write young Zafar