The Mountain Is Young
Encyclopedia
The Mountain Is Young is a novel by Han Suyin
. It is set in Nepal
in 1956. The protagonist, Anne Ford, is a writer whose husband is a retired colonial civil servant: she comes to Khatmandu to teach English at the Girls Institute. The novel is based on Han Suyin's experiences when she was invited to attend the coronation of the King of Nepal
, an event which is described in the novel. In the preface Han Suyin writes that the book endeavours to give as exact as picture as is possible of the time, but is fiction - the school at which Anne Ford teaches, many other institutions and places referenced in the book, and all the named characters, are invented. The book was republished by Penguin Books
in 1962.
in English set in Nepal". The Rough Guide
says it shows how much has changed in Khatmandu fifty-six years later, and "somewhat surprisingly" how much has not changed since then.
In Forster and further: the tradition of Anglo-Indian fiction, Sujit Mukherjee writes "The novel appears to be a command performance because Han Suyin was specially invited to attend the coronation of King Mahendra and Queen Ratna in May 1956. This work, a direct outcome of that experience, is nearly as fabulous as the occasion it celebrates. The central fable combines resusciation of a writer along with reawakening as a woman."
Han Suyin
Han Suyin , is the pen name of Elizabeth Comber, born Rosalie Elisabeth Kuanghu Chow . She is a Chinese-born Eurasian author of several books on modern China, novels set in East Asia, and autobiographical works, as well as a physician...
. It is set in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
in 1956. The protagonist, Anne Ford, is a writer whose husband is a retired colonial civil servant: she comes to Khatmandu to teach English at the Girls Institute. The novel is based on Han Suyin's experiences when she was invited to attend the coronation of the King of Nepal
Mahendra of Nepal
Possibly no heir for the time period of 1911 through 1920. Previous Crown Prince: Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah, from 1906 to 1911....
, an event which is described in the novel. In the preface Han Suyin writes that the book endeavours to give as exact as picture as is possible of the time, but is fiction - the school at which Anne Ford teaches, many other institutions and places referenced in the book, and all the named characters, are invented. The book was republished by Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
in 1962.
Reception
The book was described in The Rough Guide to Nepal 2002 as "the first - and still only - bestsellerBestseller
A bestseller is a book that is identified as extremely popular by its inclusion on lists of currently top selling titles that are based on publishing industry and book trade figures and published by newspapers, magazines, or bookstore chains. Some lists are broken down into classifications and...
in English set in Nepal". The Rough Guide
Rough Guides
Rough Guides Ltd is a travel guidebook and reference publisher, owned by Pearson PLC. Their travel titles cover more than 200 destinations, and are distributed worldwide through the Penguin Group...
says it shows how much has changed in Khatmandu fifty-six years later, and "somewhat surprisingly" how much has not changed since then.
In Forster and further: the tradition of Anglo-Indian fiction, Sujit Mukherjee writes "The novel appears to be a command performance because Han Suyin was specially invited to attend the coronation of King Mahendra and Queen Ratna in May 1956. This work, a direct outcome of that experience, is nearly as fabulous as the occasion it celebrates. The central fable combines resusciation of a writer along with reawakening as a woman."