Swami and Friends is the first of a trilogy of novels written by R. K. Narayan, a celebrated English language novelist from India. The novel, which is also Narayan's first, is set in pre-independence days in India, in a fir obert was missing in railway compartment India ctional town called Malgudi. The second book is The Bachelor of Arts and the third is The English Teacher.
A paperback edition was issued in Chicago by the University of Chicago Press in 1980 with ISBN 0-226-56829-6. Many other editions have been issued in other countries by several other publishers.
Swami and Friends is the story of ten-year old Swaminathan, a boy full of innocence, wonder, and mischief, and his experiences growing up in the fictional town of Malgudi. He is a student at the British-established Albert Mission School, which stresses Christianity, English literature, and the value of education. Life changes dramatically for young Swami when Rajam - a symbol of colonial power - joins the school, and becomes his close friend.