{"product_id":"the-apprentice","title":"The Apprentice","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Apprentice is a novel totally different in tone from all other novels and writings of Arun Joshi. The protagonist, Rattan Rather, represents the quintessence everyman - a contrast to other protagonists in so far as his intellectual level is much lower. An unsophisticated youth, jobless, he comes to the city in search of a career; unscrupulous and ready to prostitute himself for professional advancement. Seduced by materialistic values, he takes a bribe to clear a large lot of defective weapons. As a consequence, a brigadier, who is also his friend, has to desert his post and, to escape ignominy, commits suicide. A penitent Rather, avoids confessing his guilt, but, tries to achieve redemption by cleaning the shoes of devotees, every morning, at a temple. The Apprentice attacks materialistic values but with a different strategy. Rattan Rather wades through corruption to arrive at an understanding of life and its affirmations. According to World Literature Today, the novel is cast in a series of Browning-like monologues, to a boy to whom the protagonist, burdened with sorrow of a wasted life, lays bare the motives, aspirations, dilemmas and frustrations of his past.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Orient Paperbacks","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45874678825158,"sku":"DADAX8122201970","price":8.35,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0695\/9389\/1014\/files\/618GqySnzCL.jpg?v=1779560632","url":"https:\/\/ergodemedia.com\/products\/the-apprentice","provider":"Ergodemedia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}