Sukumar Roy is undoubtedly the finest writer of nonsense tales and verse in Bengali. This book presents his chief works--Rhymes without Reason and A Topsy-Turvy Tale--in English. The skillful translations convey the genial intimacy of Ray's creations and his original illustrations accompany the text throughout.
As well as the complete and unabridged text, each play in this series has an extensive range of student's notes. These include detailed and clear explanations of difficult words and passages, a synopsis of the plot, summaries of individual scenes, and notes on the main characters. Also included is a wide range of questions and activities for work in class, together with the historical background to Shakespeare's England, a brief biography of Shakespeare, and a complete list of his plays. For this new edition, the text of the play, the notes, and the introductory matter have all been revised so as to make them clearer and more accessible. In addition, the entire text of the book has been redesigned and reset to make it easier to read. The illustrations have been completely redrawn, photographs of recent stage production have been included and there is a new, attractive cover design.
The book provides a comprehensive introduction that delves into the historical and critical aspects of the pastoral tradition in English Renaissance poetry. It examines the evolution and dissemination of pastoral texts, offering insights into their significance within the literary landscape of the time. This essential supplement enhances the understanding of the anthology by contextualizing the themes and influences that shaped pastoral poetry during this period.
Chaudhuri presents an innovative approach to textual analysis, drawing on examples from both Western and Indian literature. His exploration encourages readers to engage with texts in a fresh manner, highlighting cross-cultural perspectives and enriching literary interpretation. Through diverse case studies, he challenges traditional readings and invites deeper understanding of the complexities within literature.