The first three novels of Mulk Raj Anand—Untouchable, Coolie, and Two Leaves and a Bud—are in a class by themselves. They not only present a mirror reflection of the actual life lived by the less fortunate, the lowly, and the disinherited, but move us also to the catharsis of pity. The range of their realism is unlimited. While Untouchable deals with the life and fortune of a humble scavenger, Coolie and Two Leaves and a Bud weave the tragedy of the working class. The human situation in each one comes in for sharp criticism, but the irony is diluted to some extent by a tender, moving pathos. These are, indeed, rich, human documents, having varying degrees of excellence. (p. 27)

The Coolie touches the pathetic and the sublime areas of human experience. Here, Anand explores the limits of pain central to existence. He places Munoo in opposition...