A Thousand Yearnings: A Book Of Urdu Poetry And Prose
by Ralph Russell /
2017 / English / Kindle, EPUB
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For many people, Urdu is indelibly associated with a bygone era:
the cultural renaissance of the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries in the face of colonial oppression, heady mushairas and
romantic poetry. For others, it brings to mind the gritty prose
of the Progressive Writers portraying the grim social realities
of the mid-twentieth century.
For many people, Urdu is indelibly associated with a bygone era:
the cultural renaissance of the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries in the face of colonial oppression, heady mushairas and
romantic poetry. For others, it brings to mind the gritty prose
of the Progressive Writers portraying the grim social realities
of the mid-twentieth century.
In this luminous collection of Urdu poetry and prose, Ralph
Russell expands our world of Urdu letters to include folk and
oral narratives, besides prose and poetry. By situating each form
historically, he gives us a refreshing perspective on the diverse
literary cultures and histories of India.
In this luminous collection of Urdu poetry and prose, Ralph
Russell expands our world of Urdu letters to include folk and
oral narratives, besides prose and poetry. By situating each form
historically, he gives us a refreshing perspective on the diverse
literary cultures and histories of India.
Besides canonical short stories by the likes of Manto and
Premchand, there is Ismat Chughtai's a little-known
autobiographical essay about her relationship with her brother,
the writer Azim Beg Chughtai. There are creation tales from the
Quran, popular stories of Akbar and Birbal, along with the
legendary exploits of Sikandar (Alexander the Great). Selections
from the sublime poetry of Mir, Ghalib and others are
supplemented by astute commentary and roman transcriptions of the
original Urdu. Farhatullah Beg's brilliantly imagined account of
the 'last Delhi mushaira' captures a moment in time never seen
again, with the horrors of 1857 just around the corner.
Besides canonical short stories by the likes of Manto and
Premchand, there is Ismat Chughtai's a little-known
autobiographical essay about her relationship with her brother,
the writer Azim Beg Chughtai. There are creation tales from the
Quran, popular stories of Akbar and Birbal, along with the
legendary exploits of Sikandar (Alexander the Great). Selections
from the sublime poetry of Mir, Ghalib and others are
supplemented by astute commentary and roman transcriptions of the
original Urdu. Farhatullah Beg's brilliantly imagined account of
the 'last Delhi mushaira' captures a moment in time never seen
again, with the horrors of 1857 just around the corner.
An accessible introduction for unfamiliar readers, and a
pleasurable companion for those familiar with Urdu literature,
this volume is a treasure trove of stories, poetry and history.
Originally published as
An accessible introduction for unfamiliar readers, and a
pleasurable companion for those familiar with Urdu literature,
this volume is a treasure trove of stories, poetry and history.
Originally published asHidden in the Lute
Hidden in the Lute(1995), this
revised edition has been edited by Russell's student and
friendfor several years, the novelist Marion Molteno.
(1995), this
revised edition has been edited by Russell's student and
friendfor several years, the novelist Marion Molteno.