The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling Of The Great Indian Epic

Book Summary

The great Indian epic rendered in modern prose India's most beloved and enduring legend, the "Ramayana "is widely acknowledged to be one of the world's great literary masterpieces. Still an integral part of India's cultural and religious expression, the Ramayana was originally composed by the Sanskrit poet Valmiki around 300 b.c. The epic of Prince Rama's betrayal, exile, and struggle to rescue his faithful wife, Sita, from the clutches of a demon and to reclaim his throne has profoundly affected the literature, art, and culture of South and Southeast Asia-an influence most likely unparalleled in the history of world literature, except, possibly, for the Bible. Throughout the centuries, countless versions of the epic have been produced in numerous formats and languages. But previous English versions have been either too short to capture the magnitude of the original; too secular in presenting what is, in effect, scripture; or dry, line-by-line translations. Now novelist Ramesh Menon has rendered the tale in lyrical prose that conveys all the beauty and excitement of the original, while making this spiritual and literary classic accessible to a new generation of readers. The great Indian epic rendered in modern prose India's most beloved and enduring legend, the "Ramayana "is widely acknowledged to be one of the world's great literary masterpieces. Still an integral part of India's cultural and religious expression, the Ramayana was originally composed by the Sanskrit poet Valmiki around 300 b.c. The epic of Prince Rama's betrayal, exile, and struggle to rescue his faithful wife, Sita, from the clutches of a demon and to reclaim his throne has profoundly affected the literature, art, and culture of South and Southeast Asia-an influence most likely unparalleled in the history of world literature, except, possibly, for the Bible. Throughout the centuries, countless versions of the epic have been produced in numerous formats and languages. But previous English versions have been either too short to capture the magnitude of the original; too secular in presenting what is, in effect, scripture; or dry, line-by-line translations. Now novelist Ramesh Menon has rendered the tale in lyrical prose that conveys all the beauty and excitement of the original, while making this spiritual and literary classic accessible to a new generation of readers. Ramesh Menon is the author of "Blue God: A Life of Krishna" and of the novel "The Hunt for K," which was a bestseller in India. He lives in Kodaikanal, India. From Ramesh Menon, a bestselling Indian novelist, comes "The Ramayana: A Modern Retelling of the Great Indian Epic"--a work already deemed by many the finest and most comprehensive single-volume edition of this classic available in English. India's most beloved and enduring legend, the "Ramayana" ranks among the world's great literary masterpieces; an integral part of India's cultural expression and religious thought, the epic was originally composed around 300 B.C. It presents the multi-year (if not multi-generational) saga of Prince Rama's betrayal, exile, and struggles to rescue his faithful wife, Sita, from the clutches of a demon and to reclaim his throne. In Menon's generous and engaging new version of the "Ramayana," we find a tale told in lyrical, readable, and evocative prose conveying all the beauty and excitement of the original. "The perfect balance of detail and narrative excitement . . . This is] the best single-volume version of the "Ramayana.""--Ariel Glucklich, Associate Professor of Religion, Georgetown University "This is a beautifully re-told "Ramayana." Menon finds the perfect balance of detail and narrative excitement. It's the best single-volume version of the "Ramayana.""--Ariel Glucklich, Associate Professor of Religion, Georgetown University "Reverent, lyrical, and engaging, Menon's retelling is an impressive addition to the voluminous lore--oral, written, and performed--that collectively comprises the Rama story tradition of India and Southeast Asia. Combining the basic narrative of the ancient Sanskrit epic of Valmiki with strands from medieval devotional versions and hints of Western epic, folktale, and scripture, it brings this great story to life once more for an English-language audience."--Philip Lutgendorf, Associate Professor of Hindi and Modern Indian Studies, University of Iowa "One of the ancient world's great verse epics is retold in energetic English prose in this sparkling volume, the work of an obviously accomplished Indian novelist and journalist . . . The characterizations of heroic Rama, stoical Sita, Rama's stalwart brother Lakshmana, and especially the satanic Ravana are unusually full, complex, and preternaturally vivid. A masterpiece made new for a generation of readers who ought to be very grateful indeed to Menon."--"Kirkus Reviews" "A beautiful new rendering of an inexhaustible theme."--Peter Brook

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