{"product_id":"secrets-1","title":"Secrets by Ruskin Bond","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"124\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"46\"\u003eBook Summary –\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"46\" data-end=\"49\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003e\u003cem data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"9\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eSecrets\u003c\/em\u003e is a collection of seven interconnected short stories set in pre‑ and post‑Independence Dehradun of the 1940s, narrated from the perspective of young Ruskin. The stories conjure a quaint small‑town atmosphere with its crumbling villas, modest chaat‑shops, and tonga rides—but beneath the surface lies mystery, tension, and the unexpected. In “The Canal,” mischievous boys provoke the eccentric Miss Gamla and must face her wrath; in “Over the Wall,” a man with leprosy grapples with dignity and society’s gaze; “At Green’s Hotel” introduces a charming army captain whose intentions may not be pure; and “The Skeleton in the Cupboard” unearths an old scandal altogether. Bond moves fluidly between charming, poignant, witty, and unsettling tones, proving that ghostly undercurrents and emotional unease can lurk in even the most ordinary lives. These gentle tales are vintage Bond—full of colourful characters, nostalgia, and subtle suspense.\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"124\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"126\" data-end=\"163\"\u003eAbout the Author –\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-start=\"163\" data-end=\"166\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"relative -mx-px my-[-0.2rem] rounded px-px py-[0.2rem] transition-colors duration-100 ease-in-out\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRuskin Bond\u003c\/strong\u003e (born 19 May 1934 in Kasauli, British India) is one of India’s most cherished writers, known for more than 500 short stories, essays, novels, and over fifty children’s books. His debut novel \u003cem data-start=\"203\" data-end=\"225\"\u003eThe Room on the Roof\u003c\/em\u003e, written as a teenager, won the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. He spent his formative years across towns like Jamnagar, Shimla, and Dehradun, and has lived in Landour, Mussoorie, since the 1960s. A recipient of prestigious honours—including the Sahitya Akademi Award (1992), Padma Shri (1999), and Padma Bhushan (2014)—Bond is celebrated for his deceptively simple prose, inspired by nature and hill‑station life. He strives for clarity and conversational ease in his writing—a style that feels effortless yet is deceptively hard to master. His stories evoke nostalgia, mystery, and emotional quietude, striking a chord across generations. Living in Mussoorie, he continues to write with the same passion and joy that defined his earliest works.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Best of used books","offers":[{"title":"Used","offer_id":44276635304193,"sku":"2NMN477CX-Used","price":99.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0421\/4299\/0495\/products\/RuskinBond132.jpg?v=1638439895","url":"https:\/\/bestofusedbooks.com\/products\/secrets-1","provider":"Best Of Used Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}