in 1953, his works were published in the united states for the first time, by michigan state university press, who later (in 1958), relinquished the rights to viking press. while narayan's writings often bring out the anomalies in social structures and views, he was himself a traditionalist; in february 1956, narayan arranged his daughter's wedding following all orthodox hindu rituals. after the wedding, narayan began travelling occasionally, continuing to write at least 1500 words a day even while on the road. "the guide" was written while he was visiting the united states in 1956 on the rockefeller fellowship. while in the u.s., narayan maintained a daily journal that was to later serve as the foundation for his book "my dateless diary". around this time, on a visit to england, narayan met his friend and mentor graham greene for the first time. on his return to india, "the guide" was published; the book is the most representative of narayan's writing skills and elements, ambivalent in expression, coupled with a riddle-like conclusion. the book won him the sahitya akademi award in 1958.