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An Anthology
The first Asian writer to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, Rabindranath Tagore mesmerized the world with his spiritual insights and finely wrought writings. This comprehensive and engaging anthology gathers his polymathic achievement, from the extraordinary humanity of The Post Officer to memoirs, letters, essays and conversations, short stories, extracts from the celebrated novel The Home and the World, poems, songs, epigrams, and paintings. This inspired collection of works by one of this century's most profound writers in an essential guide for readers seeking to understand Indian literature, culture, and wisdom, and the perfect reintroduction of Tagore's magnificence to American readers.
432 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 1998
9 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Rabindranath Tagore
2,574 books4,250 followersAwarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West."
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.
The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্র রচনাবলী) in the original Bengali are now available at these third-party websites:
http://www.tagoreweb.in/
http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr....
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.
The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্র রচনাবলী) in the original Bengali are now available at these third-party websites:
http://www.tagoreweb.in/
http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr....
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 23, 2022
I am constantly in awe of Tagore's English writing. A few years ago, I knew nothing of poetry, absolutely nothing, even the fact that Tagore spoke English eluded me. This collection has every kind of prose from memoir, to letters, travel writing, stories, essays and even an excerpt from the novel "Home and the World", not only that but it also includes drama and poetry, artwork, photographs, songs and epigrams. What makes it unique and a great collectionis that the translation of Tagore's most notable drama "The Postman", was done by the editors themselves. There is not much information about the translation of the novel Home and the World, which I understood to be Bengali and maybe was done by a family member, but in the translation notes it simply says that it ''is untouched".
My favourite part of this book has to be Tagore's memoirs. I think he would want us to know that even though a lot of people would think he was the lord who was rich and didn't know about what life was like for common people, but reading his memoirs paints a different picture, and actually relating to the people is what inspired so much of his art. He is a polymath with a writing style that is both simple and profound, both classic and modern. "Luxury was a thing almost unknown in my early childhood." This may seem like a simple statement from our most treasured poet, but no one really thinks of Tagore as someone who would be struggling with anything like that. Tagore's writing is multifaceted but essentially relatable. In these pages are also a treasure trove of history, his letters are often addressed to some heavy-hitting historical figures of the modern age. His English poetry floods almost every section, behind everything he does is his identity as poet breathing somewhere within the margins. His English poetry is diametrically different from Bengali which is more lyrical like the songs of the saints, and I would also say more revolutionary in tone. The English poetry is prose poetry with really long lines, some longer than hexamters mixed with free verse, almost antithetical to the nature of his Bengali lyrics which I think are in trochaic hexameters and trochaic tetrameters. I find the meanings of English poetry to be profound and finds itself somewhere between classic and modern verse. I believe his reputation as a poet went down later in his life, but in this part of the world he is so much more than just poet, and this collection shows why that is through his art and letters and from comments from other writers and historical figures that are mentioned in abundance in the book.
My favourite part of this book has to be Tagore's memoirs. I think he would want us to know that even though a lot of people would think he was the lord who was rich and didn't know about what life was like for common people, but reading his memoirs paints a different picture, and actually relating to the people is what inspired so much of his art. He is a polymath with a writing style that is both simple and profound, both classic and modern. "Luxury was a thing almost unknown in my early childhood." This may seem like a simple statement from our most treasured poet, but no one really thinks of Tagore as someone who would be struggling with anything like that. Tagore's writing is multifaceted but essentially relatable. In these pages are also a treasure trove of history, his letters are often addressed to some heavy-hitting historical figures of the modern age. His English poetry floods almost every section, behind everything he does is his identity as poet breathing somewhere within the margins. His English poetry is diametrically different from Bengali which is more lyrical like the songs of the saints, and I would also say more revolutionary in tone. The English poetry is prose poetry with really long lines, some longer than hexamters mixed with free verse, almost antithetical to the nature of his Bengali lyrics which I think are in trochaic hexameters and trochaic tetrameters. I find the meanings of English poetry to be profound and finds itself somewhere between classic and modern verse. I believe his reputation as a poet went down later in his life, but in this part of the world he is so much more than just poet, and this collection shows why that is through his art and letters and from comments from other writers and historical figures that are mentioned in abundance in the book.
September 12, 2014
If a student can recommend trilogies, then I can take the prerogative when a student specifies a particular short story within a collection. While I intend to go back and read more when the project is complete, in the interim I focused on "The Holiday" alternatively translated as "The Vacation." While less focused on Bengali culture, it explores a broader coming-of-age narrative. The lines regarding the transition period of young adult/teenage boys rang true. But in recent "seeking an Identity" novels I've read, including this one, I've found more relatable themes than in the past. I don't know if it's the literature itself or more closely noting my own life changes. But I appreciate being able to find my own, and seemingly contrary, universal messages. I think, at least with this short story, others will as well and it's worth the brief read.
May 20, 2018
Fairly interesting book about Tagore and a good sample of his short stories. The short stories were touching.
November 3, 2008
This book was a good but brief introduction to the work of Tagore. The prose selections were beautiful and the descriptions of late nineteenth century colonial India were fascinating.
Included in this volume is the play "The Post Office". This selection alone is worth the time. Also of interest were the selections from memoirs and travel writings. I would look for a dedicated volume for short stories and novel.
Included in this volume is the play "The Post Office". This selection alone is worth the time. Also of interest were the selections from memoirs and travel writings. I would look for a dedicated volume for short stories and novel.
April 4, 2007
The godfather of modern Bengali culture. Even if I didn't like it, I'd probably get shot if it got anything less than 5 stars.
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December 27, 2007Can't go wrong with the mystical master.
June 28, 2008
Very interesting and iformative book on Tagore
December 10, 2008
A rather definitive collection of Tagore's poetry, including his play "The Post Office"
September 3, 2012
Very good for an anthology. I enjoyed it very much. So much talent for one human being. Made me order more of his writings!
May 15, 2013
I just read bits and pieces of this book, getting a introduction to Tagore's life and works. Also listened to a U-tube of his songs in Bengali.
June 18, 2015
A wonderful collection of essays, letters, and short stories. A glimpse into colonial India through the eyes of an anti-establishment intellectual.
June 28, 2016
I love everything Tagore and particularly liked reading his letters in this anthology. I think we would have interesting conversations if we were in the same room. ;)
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January 7, 2011I HAVE TOLD BY MY FRIENDS THAT ITS A GOOD BOOK
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews