The Serpent And The Rope  (English, Paperback, Rao Raja)

When Rama and Madeleine meet, they feel like they have been made for each other. However, problems soon start brewing between them, especially when Rama is back from India after visiting his father who is ill.

Summary of the Book

Rama is a young scholar who meets Madeleine at a university in France. There is an instant connection between them and they soon realize that they could be made for each other as they share the same temperament and character. Though, there are times when they are divided because of the huge gulf that separates them. When Rama needs to return to India, he cannot help but realize the many contrasts between India and Europe. He is also aware of the conflict between them within himself. When he returns to France, Madeleine and Rama need to face the problems they are having in their marriage. Both of them would like to preserve their identities. Will one of them have to sacrifice their tradition in order to make their relationship work?

About Raja Rao

Raja Rao was an Indian writer of English language novels and short stories. His works were deeply rooted in Hinduism. His work spans across a variety of genres and has brought about varied and significant contribution to Indian English literature and world literature. Raja Rao was awarded the Neustadt International Prize in Literature in the year 1988. The Serpent and the Rope made him one of the finest Indian prose stylists and eventually won him the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1964. In 1969, he won the Padma Bhushan and in 2007 he won the Padma Vibhushan.