The firstever English translation of the living legend Artist Namboodiris memoir Sketches features his eloquent line drawings interspersed with vivid portrayals of the people and placesboth ordinary and significantthat he grew up with Opening a window into the esoteric and forgotten world of twentiethcentury rural Kerala Namboodiri describes how certain family homes and community spaces were the centre of creativity cultural exchange and mutual regard With a sprinkling of light humour he writes about a selfproclaimed doctor who sought out patients the most famous temple festival that he could not witness a neighbourhood elephants encounter with a deaf man among other amusing vignettes Through the chronicles of his time at art school his job as an illustrator for a leading Malayalam magazine his novel experience of making a film with an actor who didnt want to be paid Namboodiri offers an exclusive glimpse of the world of art and literature Among other renowned names KCS Panicker and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer make an appearanceVast in sweep endlessly engaging and infused with Namboodiris charming wit Sketches is a visual and literary delight