Of Women, Outcastes, Peasants, and Rebels: A Selection of Bengali Short Stories Volume 1

By: Kalpana Bardhan

Book Overview

Until now the large body of socially focused Bengali literature has remained little known to Western readers. This collection includes some of the finest examples of Bengali short stories--stories that reflect the turmoil of a changing society traditionally characterized by rigid hierarchical structures of privilege and class differentiation.

Written over a span of roughly ninety years from the early 1890s to the late 1970s, the twenty stories...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0520067142
• ISBN13: 9780520067141
• Release Date: March 1990
• Publisher: University of California Press
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A well-edited, truly moving book

Bardhan has put together an amazing collection of short stories. The writers belong to different generations and different periods in modern South Asian history, but the selection has so clear an aim that each story belongs as much in the book as the others. The translations are excellent, too. There is none of the awkwardness that one often encounters when a culture is interpreted to the world. As for the stories themselves, they describe the terrible, often chilling, near-helplessness of women and outcastes in Bengal. And yet, even in the most wretched lives, they portray hope and grim triumph. They are remarkably devoid of maudlin compassion.

Short stories providing a view of the poorest in Bengal.

This is an absolutely wonderful anthology of short stories; one of the best I've ever read. All are quite well written. Most of the stories are about the poorest of the poor in this area of India. While many of the stories are heart-breaking, it is not a depressing read. The title gives an accurate description of the book's focus. Some of the stories were written at the turn of the century & some more recently. Anyone who is interested in India, peasants, poor people or feminism will love this book.