The Spoilt Child

The Spoilt Child (1893) is a novel by Peary Chand Mitra. Originally published as Alaler Gharer Dulal under the pseudonym Tek Chand Thakur, Mitra’s novel is considered one of the first written in plainspoken, accessible Bengali. Translated here by G. D. Oswell, The Spoilt Child remains an essential work of nineteenth century Indian literature. “Matilall, having been indulged in every possible way from his boyhood, was exceedingly self-willed; at times, he would say to his father: ‘Father, I want to catch hold of the moon!’ ‘Father, I want to eat a cannon-ball!’ Now and then he would roar and cry, so that all the neighbours would say: ‘We cannot get any sleep owing to that dreadful boy.’ Having been so spoilt by his parents, the boy would not tolerate the bare idea of going to school, and thus it was that the duty of teaching him devolved upon the house clerk.” Born into wealth, spoiled by his parents, Matilall grows up to be an unruly young man. Educated by a private tutor and later in a proper school, he excels in reading and writing. But his wild ways soon prove troublesome, causing Matillal to associate with the wrong crowd of boys. One day, after leaving school, he is arrested and beaten by a notorious police officer for no reason other than that of his reputation. Put on trial, his life is saved by his tutor Thakchacha, who bravely testifies on the boy’s behalf—but his trials are far from over. This edition of Peary Chand Mitra’s The Spoilt Child is a classic of Bengali literature reimagined for modern readers.

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