The Parrot Who Wouldn't Talk And Other Stories contains many interesting tales involving various members of the author’s family. Summary Of The Book The author provides some interesting insights into the life of a British boy growing up in pre-independence India. He does this through some hilarious stories from his childhood. His family seems to have had some pretty interesting members, which made his life colorful and very memorable. The Parrot Who Wouldn't Talk And Other Stories contains fourteen stories, all involving one or the other member of his family. In Grandfather's Many Faces, the author’s grandfather baffles and entertains everyone with his ability to pass himself off as a carpenter or a washerman. In another story, Aunt Ruby buys a parrot and tries to make it talk. It firmly refuses to do this. Aunt Ruby gets angry and yells at it. Young Ruskin, who feeds the parrot, feels sorry for it and one day, deliberately leaves the cage door open so that it could escape. What the parrot does after this surprises everyone. Uncle Ken is an eccentric character who gets into trouble often. He also gets his young nephew into trouble too. Once, young Ruskin went on a long bicycle ride with his uncle. On the way, they see a place which announces itself as a Rest & Recuperation Center. They think it is probably a restaurant and get down for some refreshment. Once inside, they realize that it is a home for the mentally ill, and each of the inmates claims to be a famous personality. Another time, Uncle Ken goes to see his nephew off to some place, and gets him on board the wrong train. Once, on a sea voyage, Uncle Ken falls in love with a girl and ends up in trouble. He accompanies the girl on a shopping trip ashore, and the ship leaves without him. The Parrot Who Wouldn't Talk And Other Stories contains many other interesting characters and very funny stories. The author writes with humor and affection as each character’s quirks and traits raise hilarious laughter. About Ruskin Bond Ruskin Bond is an Anglo-Indian, whose family has for generations been living in India. He is most famous for his children’s books. Some of his other popular works include Our Trees Still Grow In Dehra, A Face In The Dark and Other Hauntings, Room On The Roof, The Panther's Moon, Angry River, and All Roads Lead To Ganga. Ruskin Bond was born in Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh in 1934. He studied at Bishop Cotton School, and while there, he took part in writing competitions and won many prizes including the Hailey Literature Prize. His first published work, The Room On The Roof, won the John Llewellyn Rhys prize. Many of his books have been adapted into movies or television series. He has also received the Sahitya Akademi Award and the Padma Shri. He still lives in the Himalayan foothills, near Mussoorie.