Ramayana

by William Buck, B.A. van Nooten (Introduction), Shirley Triest (Illustrations)

An elegant translation of the beloved epic tale of Prince Rama

Few works of literature have inspired so vast an audience across so many radically different languages and cultures as the Ramayana , written in Sanskrit over 2,000 years ago by a poet known to us as Valmiki. William Buck has retold the story of Prince Rama—with all its nobility of spirit, courtly intrigue, heroic renunciation, fierce battles, and triumph of good over evil—in a length and with a style that make the great epic accessible without compromising the spirit and lyricism of the original.

Genres: Classics

388 pages, Paperback

Published June 8, 2021

About the author

William Buck was a Sanskritist, devoting his life's work to modern retellings of the Ramayana, Mahabharata, and the unfinished Harivamsa.

Reviews

[Emilie Guan · Rating 4 out of 5]

no way she went through a trial by fire for his DOUBTING ASS TO BE STILL DOUBTFUL

really good translation though

[Richard Seltzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not understanding Hindu myth or religion, I have no right to judge this work. I can only speak of the my experience of it, in this very accessible and readable translation.

To me, it was fantasy, world-creating on a grand scale. Gods and demons and humans and intelligent animals who are like cartoon characters. There are no rules, or the rules can change at any moment. Anything can happen, regardless of physics, chemistry, geology, or common sense. An army of monkeys and bears with superpowers and equipped with magical devices. Impossible situations resolved by deus ex machina time after time. "Monkeys have bridged the sea, and stones float for them unfairly, against the natural laws, and what never yet happened in the world has happened here!" p. 307
"When everyone was aboard, that huge chariot arose with a great noise like fireworks and waterfalls, then silently high in the sky he turned north in a wide climbing curve, carrying Sita who had been lost and found again, and two mortal men, and five demons and twenty-three million monkeys and bears sitting there at their pleasure in the free-flying gardens, facing the fresh morning wind as if they owned the world." p. 373

It begins at the "beginning of Time" and talks of "the destruction preceding creation." Gods take the form of humans and other creatures. Death sometimes, like in a videogame, leads to another life. And at other times, Death is a character, like any other, capable of assuming many forms.

The style often makes the obscure and imaginary seem tangible.
"took a staff, went outside an struck the ground of heaven hard." p. 23
"fled wounded and burning in grief don to safety int he underworlds beneath the sea, through a door under Ocean." p. 25
"the huge aerial mind-driven chariot" p. 27
"the three brothers sat contemplating the absolute immensity of Life." p. 29
"there stood before Ravana his full-grown son Meghanada, like fire released from hiding in fuel, set free to burn." p. 31
"That flowery chariot... dipped down into Yana's kingdom like a rain of jewels." p. 38
"he saw Kikeyi lying like one illusion spread out to capture another" p. 68
"Ravana [who had ten heads] hung down his heads and wept for a long time."
"He wrapped himself in illusion and spread enchantment around himself with a wae or his arm, and vanished." p. 309

Some of the imagery is striking.
"The great grey elephants of Ayodhya wept as wild elephants weep when one of their Kings is captured in the forest." p. 102
"There were puzzles with essential parts missing and loaded dicee and heartbreak and many first loves lost." p. 296
"Like a mirror gleaming through from within a black velvet bag, we may sometimes glimpse Reality shining here and there when it takes us unawares." p. 306
"and shiny gold bracelets winking like fireflies in the dusk fast approaching." p. 331
"Ravana loaded a hundred tough horn-tipped bows as hard to stretch as the mind" p. 340
"swift as thought Rama shot his arrows" p. 347
"If one wished to hear stories of past times he could speak with an old sword about ancient battles, or hear the old tales told by the trees and stones." p. 390
"Flames burst like blood from the stricken stars." p. 395
"I'll go alive to heaven for awhile, and rest and tend the cow of wishes in her peaceful pasture." p. 424

There are well-stated nuggets of wisdom.
"the brighter the light the blacker the shadows" p. 65
"Time is hidden from you, charioteer. You can only see his work, not him." p. 75
"war in within us, it's nothing outside." p. 144
"All is truly forever chance and change" p. 306
"all the universe is but a sign to be read rightly, colors and forms are only put here to speak to us; and all is spirit, there is nothing else in existence." p. 394
"Even this body is not mine, this I am not. It is no part of me." p. 418

There are peculiar statements presumed to be fact, such as
"they were all twenty-five years old, the eternal age of heaven."

In this ancient text there are also strange foreshadowings of modern science. For instance, a surprisingly accurate view of Earth from outer space.
"we would fly so high that we saw below us all the world like a picture, clear as your face in a mirror. We saw Earth herself turning in space with a strange whirring noise like a firebrand swept quickly thorough the air." p. 211
As well as hints of evolution, as when Hanuman the monkey says to a human, "We are your forefathers." p. 315
And a giant hovercraft, a chariot "like a small city, lightly riding just off the ground" p. 370

If you have the time to wade through 430 pages of rambling story with no links to Western literature or any other story you are likely to have read before, taking place in a world with no ground rules, in which the ground itself might suddenly disappear, give this a try and enjoy the ride.

[Benben Michaels · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Captivating Retelling of the Ramayana by William Buck

William Buck's Ramayana is a masterful retelling of the classic Indian epic. Buck takes the core story of Prince Rama, his banishment, his wife Sita's abduction, and his ultimate triumph over the demon king Ravana, and presents it in a way that is both accessible and engaging for a modern audience.

Here's what stands out about this translation:

Readability: The Ramayana is a long and complex work. Buck's prose is clear and concise, making the story flow smoothly without sacrificing the beauty of the original.

Preserving the Essence: Buck manages to retain the epic's core themes of duty, love, and the triumph of good over evil.

Vivid Descriptions: The book is enriched with vivid descriptions that bring the characters and settings to life. You'll find yourself transported to the opulent palaces of Ayodhya and the lush jungles where Rama seeks refuge.

A Few Things to Consider:

Abridged Version: This is an abridged version of the Ramayana, so some of the intricate details and subplots may be missing.

For the Unfamiliar: If you're completely new to the Ramayana, a brief introduction to the story's background and characters might be helpful before diving in.

Overall, William Buck's Ramayana is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to experience this timeless tale. It's a beautiful and engaging read that will stay with you long after you turn the last page.

[Son · Rating 4 out of 5]

Due to the abridgement, much of the rich cultural and philosophical nuances of the original Ramayana are be absent. Readers seeking a deeper understanding might need to explore further. While Buck captures the story's core, some readers might find the religious aspects less emphasized compared to the original text. This translation definitely does not read like a religious text.

William Buck's Ramayana is a valuable resource for anyone wanting to delve into this epic tale for the first time. The accessible narrative and focus on core themes make it an engaging read. However, readers seeking a more comprehensive understanding or a deeper exploration of the religious aspects might need to consult other resources alongside Buck's version.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautiful, it was romance but how hard love really is and how in the end we live for a little time with real, true love. I loved how Rama was humble most of the time, how sita loved him no matter what, they were each other's person forever and they loved each other so much. Rama fought for Sita, and that ended up with him defeating Ravana, the demon king. Rama followed his dharma and that led to his fateful end, going to heaven and him not being a man, reuniting with Sita sometime in his life.

[Isabella Ides · Rating 5 out of 5]

In short, I love this book! The pages are falling out, I’ve reread it so many times. The William Buck translation has influenced both of my novels, “White Monkey Chronicles” and “The Godma’s Daughters,” as well as my epic poem “The Sitananda” — an iconoclastic and feminist upcycle of the tale. I am buying this newer edition for one of grandsons, an eclectic reader. I’ll borrow it from him so I can read the new introductions. Happiness!

[Sapta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good retelling in that it is easy to follow and would be understood quite easily by the contemporary audience. It is also a good book to read if you've already read the Ramayana and are reading it again. Where it fell short for me was in its religiosity. It does not read like a religious text should. I do recommend this book regardless for the prose is easy to follow and the retelling is, at times, fascinating.

[josie🫂]

logging all my english books on here lol