Bride in the Hills
Bride in the Hills by Kuvempu, published by Penguin Books India PVT, Limited on February 4, 2025, is a significant work in modern Indian literature, comprising 816 pages in English. Set against the backdrop of the forest-clad hills of Malnad during the late nineteenth century, this novel explores the love stories of young men and women striving for freedom, dignity, and fulfillment in marriage within a caste-ridden society. The narrative is woven with multiple strands, reminiscent of the Mahabharata, presenting an epic tale that reflects the complexities of rural life during a transformative period.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of experiences as Kuvempu chronicles the emergence of a vibrant rural society navigating between colonial influences and traditional practices. The text delves into the distinct experiences of the Shudra community, showcasing the author’s profound and poetic writing style. With themes that resonate across literature and fiction, as well as elements of romance and mythology, Bride in the Hills offers a deep exploration of human relationships and societal structures, making it a noteworthy addition to the literary canon.
Official synopsis Publisher
Set in the stately, forest-clad hills of Malnad in the Western Ghats during the late nineteenth century,
Bride in the Hills tells the love stories of young men and women aspiring for a life of freedom, dignity and fulfilment in marriage within a caste-ridden social order. Kuvempu’s multi-centered text, with its organic weave of varied narrative strands, much like the Mahabharata, is epic in substance and style. The novel, which is rooted in the regional realities of Malnad, is yet another example of the diversity of modern Indian literature.
Kuvempu (1904-94) chronicles the emergence of a vibrant and complex rural society caught between manipulative colonial norms and discriminatory native practices. Bringing in the distinct experiences of the Shudra lifeworld, he led Kannada literature to great heights with his profound and poetic writing. Kuvempu’s cosmic vision of vishva manava (universal man), which transcends narrow, sectarian boundaries, constitutes a precious legacy in the ethical traditions of the world.
This epic novel with the sweep of a Tolstoy classic enacts its mission statement: ‘Here, nobody is important; nobody is unimportant; nothing is insignificant!’ with brilliance, energy and imaginative power.
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