I had been recommended this book by one of my colleagues as part of some serious reading novels. The Village is a novel by Mulk Raj Anand which was the first of a trilogy that included Across the Black Waters and The Sword and the Sickle.
The novel revolves around Lal Singh a peasant in the Punjab, his antics going against social norms while in the village, his subsequent enrollment in the army and his troubles in the army, culminating in his return to the village. Mr.Anand has very well portrayed the prevailing social norms and how a common man sometimes tries going against it. Would definately recommend this book who enjoy serious writings.