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Menagerie & other Byomkesh Bakshi Myster Paperback – 14 March 2022

by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay (Author), Sreejata Guha (Translator)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 273 ratings
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An irresistible volume for crime fiction enthusiasts When, in 1932, Saradindu Bandyopadhyay decided to try his hand at detective fiction—looked down upon in Bengali literary circles of that time as frivolous ventures—he scarcely expected Byomkesh Bakshi to become one of the most popular and enduring creations in Bengali literature. Although largely modeled on such greats as Conan Doyle’s Holmes and Chesterton’s Father Brown, Byomkesh’s appeal as the self-styled inquisitor, a detective not by profession but by passion, found him a dedicated following among generations of readers. The present collection of stories, all set in Calcutta of the fifties and sixties, brings together four mysteries that put the sleuth’s remarkable mental agility to the ultimate test. In The Menagerie (adapted by master film-maker Satyajit Ray for his 1967 film Chiriakhana) Byomkesh cracks a strange case involving broken motor parts, a seemingly natural death and the peculiar inhabitants of Golap Colony who seem capable of doing just about anything to safeguard the secrets of their tainted pasts. In The Jewel Case he investigates the mysterious disappearance of a priceless necklace, while in The Will That Vanished he solves a baffling riddle to fulfil the last wish of a close friend. And in The Quills of the Porcupine, the shrewd detective is in his element as he expertly foils the sinister plans of a ruthless opportunist. Sreejata Guha’s translation captures brilliantly the thrill and ingenuity of Byomkesh’s exploits just as it does Bandyopadhyay’s remarkable portrayal of a city struggling to overcome its colonial past and come into its own.
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  1. Print length
    328 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Penguin Books India
  4. Publication date
    14 March 2022
  5. Dimensions
    16.6 x 15.5 x 0.94 cm
  6. ISBN-10
    0143061968
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0143061960
  8. See all details
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Product description

About the Author

Saradindu Bandyopadhyay is a popular and renowned writer of ghost stories, historical romances and children's fiction in Bengali. The Byomkesh series remains his most cherished contribution to the world of contemporary Bengali fiction. Sreejata Guha has translated Saradindu Bandyopadhyay's Picture Imperfect (a collection of Byomkesh Bakshi mysteries) and Band of Soldiers (a collection of the Sadashiv stories) for Penguin.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books India (14 March 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 328 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143061968
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143061960
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 230 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 16.6 x 15.5 x 0.94 cm
  • Country of Origin ‏ : ‎ India
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 273 ratings

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Śaradindu Bandyopādhyāẏa

Śaradindu Bandyopādhyāẏa

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
273 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and enjoyable to read for mystery and detective fiction fans. They appreciate the translation that captures the thrill and ingenuity of the story. The characters, backdrop, and language are described as Bengali.

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ReadabilityCrime fictionLanguageThrill
20 customers mention "Readability"20 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy reading the stories set in an earlier day Calcutta. They find the book interesting and a must-read for mystery lovers. The gripping plots and excellent development are described as excellent. Readers mention that the tales leave them perplexed and are exciting to read.

"In my opinion this is a masterpiece in Indian literature.A good book I read in a long while...." Read more

"...The way Byomkesh cracks the case is so exciting and enthusiasing to read. A must have for your collection...." Read more

"...The narratives are so enchanting that it has managed to enthrall more than 8 decades of readers. It has managed to pervade to different age groups...." Read more

"Fantastic Byomkesh stories. The Quill of the Porcupine is the best." Read more

4 customers mention "Crime fiction"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the crime fiction. They find it excellent for crime and detective fiction lovers, with clueless murder victims and keen murder investigations. The book is described as the father of all Indian detective stories.

"...seasoned murderers and hapless clueless murder victims and keen murder investigations...." Read more

"...Recommended for crime buffs." Read more

"excellent book for crime and detective fiction lovers" Read more

"Father of all Indian detective stories/detectives!..." Read more

3 customers mention "Language"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's language. They find the translation excellent and the characters, backdrop, and language are based on Bengali.

"...The translation is excellent and I received the book in a good condition...." Read more

"...The characters, backdrop and language are tagged with Bengal. However the crime committed and investigation followed cannot be parochial...." Read more

"...Great translation too - especially on cutting through the dense, original, archaic Bengali prose." Read more

3 customers mention "Thrill"3 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's excitement. They mention love, lust, deception, greed, resentment, and revenge. The translation captures the thrill and ingenuity of the story well.

"...] Sreejeet Guha translation captures brilliantly the thrill and ingenuity of Byomkesh. The book has 5 stories/cases...." Read more

"...These are “The Menagerie “and “The Quill of Porcupine”. There is love, lust, deception, greed, resentment and revenge...." Read more

"...Sedate, but arousing curiosity...." Read more

Nostalagia of 90s, Satyanveshi Byomkesh Bakshi.
5 out of 5 stars
Nostalagia of 90s, Satyanveshi Byomkesh Bakshi.
Sreejeet Guha translation captures brilliantly the thrill and ingenuity of Byomkesh. The book has 5 stories/cases. Saradindu Bandopadhyay shows the Calcutta of 1950s . I loved the chidiakhana case (the Menagerie) the only reason I bought this book. The way Byomkesh cracks the case is so exciting and enthusiasing to read. A must have for your collection. Ohh and last the book is published by Penguin so no need to worry about the Quality.
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Top reviews from India

  • yashi
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good book I read in a long while
    Reviewed in India on 28 January 2015
    Verified Purchase
    In my opinion this is a masterpiece in Indian literature.A good book I read in a long while.Its a book which captures the highlights of British India, though its absurd that they have not mentioned about a single britt .The tales leave us perplexed. Unlike other detective stories Byomkesh keeps dropping subtle hints now and then for the readers to keep guessingThats what I admire the most about it.Mysteries can't be as simple and sweet as in this book.Our "Satyanveshi" or seeker of truth as he calls himself,expertly clears the clouds leaving us amazed by the end.The translation is excellent and I received the book in a good condition.The cover portrays a scene from Satyajit Ray's film 'Chiriyakhana' or the 'Menagerie' as we say in English.This book has no profanity or vulgarity.It can be read and cherished by people of all ages.Director Dibakar Bannerjee is making a film based on his tales starring Sushant Singh Rajput.He is India's original detective and is not inspired by anyone.I loved it and I am sure you will too !
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  • Ansh Waghela
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalagia of 90s, Satyanveshi Byomkesh Bakshi.
    Reviewed in India on 2 July 2021
    Verified Purchase
    The media could not be loaded.
    Sreejeet Guha translation captures brilliantly the thrill and ingenuity of Byomkesh. The book has 5 stories/cases. Saradindu Bandopadhyay shows the Calcutta of 1950s . I loved the chidiakhana case (the Menagerie) the only reason I bought this book. The way Byomkesh cracks the case is so exciting and enthusiasing to read. A must have for your collection. Ohh and last the book is published by Penguin so no need to worry about the Quality.
    Customer image
    Ansh Waghela
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Nostalagia of 90s, Satyanveshi Byomkesh Bakshi.

    Reviewed in India on 2 July 2021
    Sreejeet Guha translation captures brilliantly the thrill and ingenuity of Byomkesh. The book has 5 stories/cases. Saradindu Bandopadhyay shows the Calcutta of 1950s . I loved the chidiakhana case (the Menagerie) the only reason I bought this book. The way Byomkesh cracks the case is so exciting and enthusiasing to read. A must have for your collection. Ohh and last the book is published by Penguin so no need to worry about the Quality.
    Images in this review
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    2 people found this helpful
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  • Debjit Sengupta
    4.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing and unputdownable
    Reviewed in India on 6 May 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Byomkesh Bakshi is a fictional detective in Bengali literature created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. He is cigarette puffing dhoti clad detective who loves to call himself a truth seeker instead. He is handed the most elusive cases and he cracks this most inconceivable cases in a most astounding manner. He deals more with ideas and logic and goes about his case with calm and composure and hardly chases clues and suspect. His investigation style is devoid of action, emotion and melodrama. He has the knack of picking clues from the most trivial conversation which the reader tends to ignore.

    The narratives are so enchanting that it has managed to enthrall more than 8 decades of readers. It has managed to pervade to different age groups. Each generation is Bengalis has been discovering Byomkesh Bakshi with delight.

    Piggybacking on the character success, films have been made on him. Last 6-7 years, almost every ever, a new film is being released. The first film was made by legendary Satyajit Ray with Uttam Kumar enacting the main role. Both went on to win the National award. However, if you have read Byomkesh Bakshi then you will be disappointed with the films that are churned out recently. Present films barely manage to do any justice. Even Diwakar Banerjee attempt to make a Hindi film has few takers. However, outside Bengal many had their first brush with the character on Doordarshan , 2 decades back. Directed by Basu Chatterjee, the character was enacted by Rajat Kapoor , who did a decent job.

    There are 4 stories, out of which 2 stories takes 90% of the book space. These are “The Menagerie “and “The Quill of Porcupine”. There is love, lust, deception, greed, resentment and revenge. You keep on guessing about the actual perpetrator of crime and his motive until Byomkesh Bakshi simplify you at the end. Read the first story and I’m sure you will be hooked to the end.

    Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay excelled in short stories, novel, stage play and screen play. However, it was Byomkesh Bakshi that propelled him to him to greater popularity even though his other works too had many takers. The characters, backdrop and language are tagged with Bengal. However the crime committed and investigation followed cannot be parochial. So, the character should not be restricted to Bengal or Bengali alone, but should reach non-bengali readers as well. The translation work carried out by Sreejata Guha is a noble, commendable, splendid and right effort in that direction. This should act as a vehicle to carry Byomkesh Bakshi to both non-bengali and probhasi Bengali(those Bengali who are born and bought up elsewhere) readers
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Ranjit Madgavkar
    5.0 out of 5 stars What an amazing writer
    Reviewed in India on 8 September 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Fantastic Byomkesh stories. The Quill of the Porcupine is the best.
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  • Sid_davay
    5.0 out of 5 stars Golap Colony,"It really is a menagerie"
    Reviewed in India on 15 January 2023
    Verified Purchase
    I really liked the cover illustration, reading the first and longest story in the book- The Menagerie.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Bhuvaneshwari Arun
    5.0 out of 5 stars 5🌟 because
    Reviewed in India on 1 December 2021
    Verified Purchase
    unimaginable and far from routine plots entailing atrocious murders butter won't melt in their mouth seasoned murderers and hapless clueless murder victims and keen murder investigations. Everything surprises in its new conceptions except for the old era in which stories are set. Absorbing meaty though pared down meticulousness .
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  • Jenny
    5.0 out of 5 stars good product
    Reviewed in India on 21 October 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I received the book in very good condition, no bookmarks came along though ! the book is a must read for mystery lovers.
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  • new_mom
    3.0 out of 5 stars A one time read
    Reviewed in India on 21 November 2015
    Verified Purchase
    The plot is intriguing and would have been better portrayed on films. The stories are a bit too theatrical for my taste. I enjoyed Reading Feluda more.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Njkinny's Blog
    5.0 out of 5 stars Take a ride down the history lane to a Bengal in India of the past with Byomkesh Bakshi! A must read...
    Reviewed in the United States on 8 January 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Byomkesh Bakshi is an evergreen character of a Bengali Investigator who despised the word "Detective" to describe his profession but instead liked to call himself a "Truth Seeker". Resembling a little like Sherlock Holmes, Byomkesh can be said to be the Indian Sherlock.

    I truly fell in love with him after watching the very famous TV series based on his cases that aired on Doordarshan and featured Rajit Kapoor as Byomkesh. It was this TV series in Hindi that brought the Bengali character created by Saradindu Bandopadhyay into our non-Bengali knowledgeable homes and made this character so well known outside the Bengali community.

    The Menagerie and other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries contains four cases of Byomkesh that are translated in English by Sreejata Guha. I had been on the lookout for good translations of Byomkesh's cases either in Hindi or English to read and when a friend recommended this book, I just had to read it myself to know if the true essence of the mysteries had been preserved in these translations or not.

    The cover of the book is not attractive and it is only the title, the author's name and the blurb that will attract readers towards this book at first glance.

    4 mysteries are covered in the book, namely: The Menagerie (Chidiyakhana), The Jewel Case (Monimondon), The Will That Vanished (Khunji Khunji Nari) and The Quills of the Porcupine (Shajarur Kanta). The cases are not in any order but this does not hamper the entertainment value in the least.

    The English translation by Sreejata Guha is skillfully done and she manages to capture the essence of Bengal in the year range of 1953 to 67. Her descriptions create a mental picture of that time when life was not as chaotic and yet crime and criminals were just as cunning as today!

    For people like me who don't understand Bengali and so cant read the original work of the author, her translation of the four later cases of Byomkesh Bakshi's life are like a breath of fresh air and very enjoyable. Nowhere did the translation feel odd but instead merged beautifully to bring out dialogues just like they would have been woven in the Bengali original.

    All the four cases covered in this book are among the best of Byomkesh's career and I loved reading them. A great addition to my book collection, this book is a must have and one that can be read and re-read any number of times. The cases are intelligent, brain exercising and still as shocking in their solution even after decades and after leaps in scientific development!

    All in all, The Menagerie and other Byomkesh Bakshi Mysteries by Saradindu Bandyopadhyay is a must read and I strongly recommend it to all lovers of mystery and suspense. Take a ride down the history lane to a Bengal in India of the past and follow Byomkesh and Ajit as they tackle unconventional crimes and criminals. 4.5 out of 5 to this book and I hope the publishers and Sreejata bring out translations of the other Byomkesh stories too!

    This review is also available on Njkinny's World of Books & Stuff
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good translation quality, enjoyed by 9 yrs old kid.
    Reviewed in the United States on 20 August 2019
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  • Sanjoy
    4.0 out of 5 stars great translation
    Reviewed in the United States on 3 February 2015
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    Excellent translation of some of the more memorable Byomkesh stories. Makes great reading. Certainly worth downloading and spending a winter's afternoon delightfully, with this collection.
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  • Christopher Adkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading, mystery lover!
    Reviewed in the United States on 24 June 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I first heard of Byomkesh from the recent Bollywood movie. When I saw that it was based on a book I decided to check it out. It was hard to find a way to get these stories in America, but Amazon to the rescue. I really enjoyed The Menagerie. The translation is a little dated and some words are left in Bengali (like it will say kaki instead of Aunt, for some reason), but I could follow along easy enough.
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  • Parthasarathy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 July 2015
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    Great plots and excellent translation
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