Top Famous Books by Ruskin Bond: Must-Read Classics

Celebrated for his evocative stories that glorify the majestic mountains and bring characters to life with rich emotions, Ruskin Bond is one of India’s most cherished authors, loved by readers across generations. Whether you encountered his enchanting tales as a child or discovered his magic as an adult, Bond’s stories transport you to a world full of nostalgia, celebrating the beauty of nature and universal human emotions like friendship, love, and the innate curiosity to explore. Fondly calling himself a Lone Wolf, Bond exudes the timeless charm of Landour.

Over several decades, he has crafted more than 500 short stories, novels, essays, and around 50 books for children. If you’re eager to immerse yourself in captivating characters set against breathtaking landscapes and relatable life situations, this blog presents a curated list of must-read Ruskin Bond books you shouldn’t miss in your lifetime.

“Grow something, my friend. Even if it is a potted tomato plant, it will make a difference in your life.“

The Poetic Writer: Ruskin Bond

A writer who has been admired for his genres by people of all age groups, Ruskin Bond is truly exceptional with his work. The prolific writer turns ordinary moments into extraordinary memories that capture each scene perfectly. Ruskin Bond is considered to have an upbeat, humble, yet inspiring personality. Before we engross ourselves in Bond’s world of narratives, let’s explore a few lesser-known facts about the author.

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List of Famous Books Written by Ruskin Bond

Awarded by the Padma Bhushan, Ruskin Bond has written a wide range of beautiful short stories, novels, and autobiographical literature that has mesmerised people of all ages. His literary career spans over six decades and has been adored for his children’s literature as well as his love for nature, mountains, and especially India! If you are looking for Bond’s most popular short stories and novels, here are the famous books by Ruskin Bond you must check out:

1. The Room on the Roof
2. The Blue Umbrella
3. Rusty, the Boy from the Hills
4. Time Stops at Shamli
5. A Flight Of Pigeons
6. Roads to Mussoorie
7. Delhi Is Not Far
8. Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra
9. The Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories
10. The Perfect Murder
11. The Great Train Journey
12. The Wind on Haunted Hill
13. Death under the Deodars
14. Rain in the Mountains: Notes from the Himalayas
15. The Thing in the Upper Room
16. When Darkness Falls and Other Stories
17. Looking for the Rainbow
18. Time Stops at Shamli and Other Stories
19. The Ruskin Bond Children’s Omnibus
20. A Book of Simple Living
21. A Face in the Dark and Other Hauntings: Collected Stories of the Supernatural
22. Funny Side Up
23. Maharani
24. Susanna’s Seven Husbands
25. Angry River
26. Vagrants in the Valley
27. A Season Of Ghosts
28. Lone Fox Dancing
29. Looking for the Rainbow: My Years with Daddy
30. Falling in Love Again
31. Tales of Fosterganj
32. Dust on the Mountain
33. Love Among the Bookshelves
34. The Sensualist
35. The India I Love
36. Tigers for Dinner: Tall Tales by Jim Corbett’s Khansama
37. The Hidden Pool
38. The Kitemaker: Stories
39. All Roads Lead To Ganga
40. No Man is an Island: Stories of Friendship and Bonding
41. Tales And Legends Of India
42. A Song of Many Rivers

Let’s take a fun-filled dive into the best of Ruskin Bond, from the Classic Blue Umbrella to the amazing Night Train at Deoli and Other Stories!

The Blue Umbrella

“She was always ready with her smile, and would willingly have lent it to anyone who was feeling unhappy.”

The Blue Umbrella is one of the most famous books by Ruskin Bond. Given a cinematic adaptation by Vishal Bhardwaj, the film also went on to win the National Film Award for Best Children’s Film in 2006. Set in a village in Himachal Pradesh, the story revolves around a blue umbrella, which is given to a young village girl, Binya, by some tourists in exchange for her lucky charm leopard claw pendant. Her umbrella becomes very popular in the village, to the extent that a shopkeeper becomes obsessed with obtaining it and offers to buy it from the girl, only to be rejected. A series of different events follows, which ultimately ends with Binya deciding to give the umbrella to the shopkeeper, who, in return, gifts her a necklace with a bear’s claw.

The Room on the Roof

“When we are young, we can put up with a great deal of discomfort in order to follow a dream. If, after thirty-five years, I’m still doing my own thing, it’s because I haven’t forgotten the dream. Let no man take your dream away. It will sustain you to the end.”

The Room on the Roof is Ruskin Bond’s first novel, which was written when he was only seventeen. As the earliest one amongst the famous books by Ruskin Bond, the story revolves around an orphaned Anglo-Indian boy named Rusty, who lives with his guardians in Dehradun. His guardian keeps him from mingling with Indians, and one day, after getting punished for going into the bazaar, Rusty runs away and, with the help of some friends he made at the bazaar, starts a new life. Later, he gets a job teaching English to a boy named Kishen, in exchange for food and a small room on the roof. The novel paints a colourful rainbow of emotions as Rusty observes people from his room on the roof, falls for Kishen’s mother, and, as the story progresses, he becomes a mature adult as he carves out a life of his own.

Time Stops at Shamli

“We remember only what we want to remember.”

A collection of numerous short stories, Time Stops at Shamli, is another famous book by Ruskin Bond. All the stories mentioned in this work are different in essence, but each is as appealing as the others. The short story ‘Time Stops at Shamli’, which is a part of the book, is based on a small place called Shamli, where the train from Delhi to Dehradun stops for only five minutes. A railway passenger who is curious about this place gets a chance to explore it when his train stops at the station for a longer duration due to some problems with the railway lines. The story tells about the day he spends in a hotel in Shamli, getting along with the people, both known and unknown, he meets during his stay, and the long-lasting impression the town leaves on him.

Rusty, the Boy from the Hills

“But the trees seemed to know me. They whispered among themselves and beckoned me nearer.”

Rusty, the Boy from the Hills, explores the life and adventures of Rusty, a curious and imaginative boy and a fictional version of Bond himself, from his early childhood to his teen years. In this very famous book by Ruskin Bond, he attempts to recount and describe his childhood in the foothills of the Himalayas, which he spent with his grandparents. One of his most popular books among children and adults alike, the stories mentioned in the book range from a pet python to escaping from enemy bombardment during World War II to encountering ghosts. The book is a mixture of weird, funny and wholesome experiences that will surely make you reminisce about your own childhood memories!

A Flight of Pigeons

One of the most famous books by Ruskin Bond, A Flight of Pigeons, is set amidst the revolt of 1857. The story revolves around Ruth Labadoor and her family; her father is killed in front of her by rebels who have decided to wipe out all British people in the town. Ruth and her mother escape and take shelter in the house of their servant, from where they are discovered and taken by a notorious Pathan to his own house. Contrary to their expectations, they are treated well in the house and, after a series of events, are able to safely reunite with their relatives as the British took control and curbed the revolt. Shyam Benegal adapted this heartwarming novel of Bond into a film called Junoon, which starred Shashi Kapoor, Nafisa Ali, Naseeruddin Shah and Shabana Azmi and was released in 1979.

Delhi Is Not Far

“The rain swirls over the trees and roofs of the town, and the parched earth soaks it up, exuding a fragrance that comes only once in a year, the fragrance of quenched earth, the most exhilarating of all smells.”

As mentioned in the foreword by the author, Delhi Is Not Far is a plotless story, revolving around the lives of numerous lower-middle-class people in the small town of Pipalnagar. The different characters in the story include a writer, a barber, an orphan, a teenager, etc., who all want to make it big in life by moving to Delhi. But due to different reasons, mainly financial, none of them managed to make it to Delhi in the end. This book puts forward the struggles faced by middle-class people and also their interdependent relationships with the people around them.

Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra

“Live long, my friend, be wise and strong, but do not take from any man his song.”

Our Trees Still Grow in Dehra is a collection of numerous short stories that describe the life of the author from childhood to adulthood. Counted among the most famous books by Ruskin Bond, the short stories take us on a ride where we travel with the young Ruskin Bond to the hills of Mussoorie. Along the way, we are introduced to his friends, family and other people who made an impression on his life. This collection of short stories enables us to view India through the eyes of this wonderful author.

“On books and friends I spend my money;
For stones and bricks, I haven’t any.”

Also Read: John Dewey Quotes About Education

How Many Books are Written by Ruskin Bond?

Ruskin Bond has written more than 500 short stories, novels, and essays in his lifetime. More than 100 of his books have been published. Ruskin Bond is-

• One of the most beloved authors of India
• Has written fiction, children’s literature, and poetry 
• His stories are inspired by the hills of India 

What is Ruskin Bond’s Most Famous Book?

The most famous book of Ruskin Bond is “The Room on the Roof”. This is an award-winning novel. Ruskin Bond wrote this book when he was just 17 years old. The book gained him the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize in 1957. The book tells the story of a 16-year-old Anglo-Indian orphan boy who is living in Dehradun. The story is about how Rustry goes from a lonely and sad boy to a confident and independent young man.

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Written by India’s master storyteller, the famous books by Ruskin Bond will transport you to a world of nostalgia, charming natural countryside and simple yet deeply complicated characters, which will leave a lasting impression on your mind! Want to pursue creative writing courses? Reach out to our experts at Leverage Edu, and we will guide you in choosing the best course and university to help you actualise your dream career! Sign up for a free session today!