On the Banks of the Mayyazhi

Mayyazhi (Mahe) - a French colony in the middle of Kerala, in the 1940s: a melange of native myth and legend and shimmering French elegance. Folklore has it that souls hover as dragonflies over the Velliyan Rock in the sea.

A wave of nationalism sweeps over the town and a group of dedicated young men are determined to free Mayyazhi from the French. Dasan, a promising young man destined for a brilliant career in the French government, finds himself in the thick of the movement.

M. Mukundan, one of Kerala's best-known writers of fiction, captures the spirit of a period of transition memorably evoking a Mayyazhi that is now lost forever.

This edition of On the Banks of the Mayyazhi features the awardwinning English translation by Gita Krishnankutty that first appeared in the 1990s.

This is a classic work of fiction, encompassing history and folklore and beautifully written; it belongs on the bookshelves of all literature lovers.