classic Hindu epic Ramayana- meant as a funny and readable version of the work- was banned in India for some years, as devout Hindus were horrified by the liberties Menen took with a sacred text. Menen states that his goal is to, "aim at reviving," Valmiki's, "attitude of mind." Menen's humor did not undercut his love for India, however, as can be seen in his book on Hindu mystics and his text to Roloff Beny's great book of photographs of India (India, 1969). Works Novels The Prevalence of Witches (1947) The Stumbling-Stone (1949) The Backward Bride: A Sicilian Scherzo (1950) The Duke of Gallodoro (1952) The Ramayana, As Told by Aubrey Menen (1954) The Abode of Love: The Conception, Financing and Daily Routine of an English Harem in the Middle of the 19th Century (1956) The Fig Tree (1959) SheLa: A Satire (1962) A Conspiracy of Women (1965) Fonthill: A Comedy (1974) Travel Rome Revealed (1960) Speaking the Language Like a Native (1962) India, with Roloff Beny (1969) Upon This Rock (1972) London (1976) Venice (1976) Other non-fiction Dead Man in the Silver Market (1953) The Space within the Heart (1970) Cities in the Sand (1972) The New Mystics and the True Indian Tradition (1974) Four Days of Naples (1979) Art and Money (1980) References External links NYT Obituary Time magazine review of "Man Without a Country" and information about Mr. Menen Review of, "A Conspiracy of Women" English satirists 1912 births 1989 deaths Writers from London Indian people of Irish descent English novelists