ABSTRACT
Though a very short novel, The Cat and Shakespeare wastes no time in plunging the reader into a metaphysical realm existing alongside the mundane lives of two neighbours, one of whom happily takes on the informal role of guru for the other. I explore Rao’s interest in using the novel form to explore philosophical topics and, in the process, endanger his reputation as a novelist for the ages. Certainly, one can begin by stipulating that he is, perhaps stereotypically, the ‘most Indian’ of the three founding fathers of the Indian novel in English—but what does that mean for someone who spent so much of his life away from the land of his birth? Does placement even matter in Rao’s philosophy? And what does he understand as the purpose of his writing? Does an audience play any significant role in how he approaches his work? Does his literary reputation matter to him—and does the need to communicate with others factor into his narrative technique? If he raises important questions for potential readers, will he be relegated to an author for a particular moment (and place), or is he writing for the ages?
