Mayyazhi (Mahe)—a quaint French colony in the middle of Kerala in the 1940s: a melange of shimmering elegance, native myth and legend, where souls are said to hover as dragonflies over the Velliyan Rock in the sea.

A wave of nationalism sweeps over the languorous town, igniting the desire for change. As the colonial loyalists clash with the group of dedicated youth determined to free Mayyazhi from the French, Dasan, a promising young man destined for a brilliant career in the French government, finds himself in the thick of the movement.

M. Mukundan, one of Kerala’s best-known writers of fiction, deftly captures the spirit of a period of transition, evoking a Mayyazhi that is now lost forever.

A milestone in India’s publishing history, Mayyazhippuzhayude Theerangalil was published in Malayalam in 1974 and went on to become a bestseller and win plaudits in several languages. This edition features the award-winning English translation by Gita Krishnankutty that first appeared in the 1990s.

A classic work of fiction, encompassing history and folklore, and beautifully written, On the Banks of the Mayyazhi belongs on the bookshelves of all literature lovers.