![]() ![]() ![]() Some characters don’t receive their comeuppance others don’t finish with a full ‘happy ever after’. Not everything is wrapped up – refreshingly and unusually for a turn-of-the-century novel. The tale deals with love – of course, what else in 1910? – and twists and turns as the four main protagonists go from misunderstanding to foolish endeavour to finally learning the dark secrets which change everything. He wraps up such intellectual depth into a thoroughly interesting tale of desire, misunderstanding and machinations. Instead, this novel offers a fascinating look into Bengali middle class culture and doesn’t shy away from the complexities of cultural and religious life – indeed, such themes are at the heart of the novel. While there are passages which are long and deeply philosophical in tone, Tagore never bores. The Tagore I adored in short form is the same Tagore in long. ![]() But could I cope with a novel entirely Bengali in thought and word even if translated into English? Or would I find it dated and as satisfying to read as I found Joseph Conrad (which is to not satisfying at all!)? Yes, I’d enjoyed reading all his short stories and, of course, his ‘Gitanjali’ are beautiful gems of poetry. It was written in 1910 and so belongs to an era where language then was often flowery and quite superfluous by today’s ‘active voice’ precise writing. I wasn’t entirely sure if I was going to like this book – Tagore’s fifth and arguably best novel. ![]()
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