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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2018}}
{{short description|1958 novel by R. K. Narayan}}
{{about-distinguish|the Narayan novel|Guide}}

{{Infobox book 
| name           =  The Guide
| title_orig     =  
| translator     =  
| image          =  File:TheGuide.jpg
| caption        =  First US edition
| author         =  [[R. K. Narayan]]
| cover_artist   =  
| country        =  [[India]]
| language       =  [[English language|English]]
| series         =  
| genre          =  [[Philosophical novel]]
| publisher      =  {{ubl|[[Viking Press]] (US)|[[Methuen Publishing|Methuen]] (UK)}}
| release_date   =  [[1958 in literature|1958]]
| media_type     =  Print ([[hardcover]] & [[paperback]])
| pages          =  220 pp
| isbn = 0-670-35668-9
| isbn_note = (first American edition)
| oclc           = 65644730
| preceded_by    =  
| followed_by    =  
}}

'''''The Guide''''' is a 1958 novel written in [[English language|English]] by the [[India]]n author [[R. K. Narayan]]. Like most of his works, the events of this novel take place in [[Malgudi]], a fictional town in [[South India]]. The novel describes the transformation of the [[protagonist]], Raju, from a [[tour guide]] to a spiritual guide and then one of the greatest [[Asceticism|holy men]] of India.

This novel earned Narayan the first 1960 [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] for English, by the [[Sahitya Akademi]], India's National Academy of Letters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sahitya-akademi.gov.in/sahitya-akademi/awards/akademi_awards.jsp|title=Sahitya Akademi Awards listings|publisher=[[Sahitya Akademi]], Official website}}</ref> In 2022, it was included on the "[[Big Jubilee Read]]" list of 70 books by [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] authors selected to celebrate the [[Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2Ynpj933DJ2YG5nsMS6fn8k/a-literary-celebration-of-queen-elizabeth-iis-record-breaking-reign|title=The Big Jubilee Read: A literary celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's record-breaking reign|website=BBC|date=17 April 2022|access-date=14 July 2022}}</ref>

==Plot summary==
The protagonist, Raju, who is nicknamed "Railway Raju", is characterized as being a [[corrupt]] and popular tour guide. In the story, he falls in love with a beautiful woman named Rosie, who is married to an [[Archaeology|archaeologist]] named Marco, while the [[Marriage|couple]] is visiting Malgudi as tourists. Marco disapproves of Rosie's passion for dancing but Raju encourages Rosie to pursue her dreams and become a dancer. With this interaction, they begin to spend time with each other and become very close.  

Upon learning about their relationship, Marco leaves Rosie in Malgudi and returns to [[Madras]] alone. Rosie seeks refuge at Raju's home, and they start living together. However, Raju's mother does not approve of their relationship and leaves them.  

Raju becomes Rosie's stage manager, and with his [[marketing]] tactics, Rosie gains recognition as a dancer. With his success, Raju becomes overly confident and begins to assert more control over Rosie's life for financial gain. He becomes involved in a [[forgery]] case related to Rosie's signature. Raju is sentenced to two years in prison, despite Rosie's defence.  

After completing his sentence, Raju passes through a village called Mangal, where he is mistaken for a ''[[sadhu]]'' (a spiritual guide). To avoid returning to Malgudi in disgrace, he decides to stay in an abandoned temple near Mangal. There, he takes on the role of a sadhu, delivering sermons and solving the villagers' daily problems and disputes.  

During a [[famine]] in the village, some of the villagers request help from Raju, believing that rain will come and end the famine if he [[fasting|fasts]]. Raju decides to confess his entire past to Velan, who had initially discovered him in the temple and had unwavering faith in him like the rest of the villagers. However, Velan remains unchanged by the confession, and Raju resolves to continue with the fast.  

As news of Raju's fast spreads through the media, a large crowd gathers to witness the spectacle, much to Raju's annoyance. On the morning of the eleventh day of his fast, he goes to the riverside as part of his daily ritual. He senses rain falling in the distant hills and collapses into the water. Whether it actually rained or if Raju died remains unknown and open to the reader's interpretation.

==Adaptations==
{{main|Guide (film)}}

The film ''Guide'' was released in 1965, based on the novel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/apr/18dinesh.htm|title=Guide; a human odyssey|first=Dinesh|last= Raheja|access-date=24 June 2015|website=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref> It was directed by [[Vijay Anand (filmmaker)|Vijay Anand]]. It starred [[Dev Anand]] as Raju, [[Waheeda Rehman]] as Rosie, and [[Leela Chitnis]] in the lead roles. The film's score was composed by [[S. D. Burman]]. The movie's ending differs from that of the novel, in which the fate of some characters remain unanswered.

A 120-minute U.S. version was written by [[Pearl S. Buck]], and directed and produced by [[Tad Danielewski]]. The film was screened at the 2007 [[Cannes Film Festival]], 42 years after its release.

The novel was also adapted into a play in 1968.<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/5840/The-Guide Playbill from 1968 production] accessed 16 June 2013.</ref> The play was profiled in the [[William Goldman]] book ''[[The Season: A Candid Look at Broadway]]''.

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059246 Guide (1965)] at [[IMDb (identifier)|IMdb]]
* Read a [https://web.archive.org/web/19990117080516/http://www.wsu.edu:8080/%7Ebrians/anglophone/narayan.html Study guide] on the original novel
* [http://www.literature-study-online.com/essays/narayan-guide.html An analysis] on the original novel
* [http://www.letstalkaboutbollywood.com/article-17382307.html Some thoughts about the novel at ''Let's talk about Bollywood'']{{See also|Malgudi|Indian literature}}

{{R. K. Narayan}}
{{Sahitya Akademi Award for English}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guide, The}}
[[Category:1958 Indian novels]]
[[Category:Indian novels adapted into films]]
[[Category:Indian novels adapted into plays]]
[[Category:Methuen Publishing books]]
[[Category:Novels by R. K. Narayan]]
[[Category:Novels set in India]]
[[Category:Sahitya Akademi Award–winning works]]
[[Category:Viking Press books]]
[[Category:Indian philosophical novels]]