
Fantasy Fictions from the Bengal Renaissance
The Make-Believe Prince; Toddy-Cat the Bold
OUP India (Publisher)
Published on 11. October 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
372 pages
978-0-19-948675-5 (ISBN)
Description
'Fantasy Fictions from the Bengal Renaissance' presents two masterpieces of Bengali literature by Rabindranath Tagore's nephews, Abanindranath Tagore and Gaganendranath Tagore. 'The Make-Believe Prince' is the delightful story of a king, his two wives, a trickster monkey, a witch, and a helper from another world who is not a 'fairy godmother'. Abanindranath deploys traditional children's rhymes and paints exquisite word-pictures in his unusual original rendering of a tale which has its origins in Bengali folktale materials in various genres. 'Toddy-Cat the Bold' sees a group of brave comrades seek help from a young boy to rescue the son of their leader from the Two-Faced Rakshasa of the forest, and has another, more numinous helper. Inspired by Lewis Carroll's Alice books, it presents a comic, exciting, and mysterious journey quite unlike Carroll's, with many traditional local touches and an unexpected ending.
Reviews / Votes
antasy Fictions is something far beyond a skilful and pleasing translation of two landmark texts of Bengali children's literature: it is a rich repository of insights into numerous facets of Indian literature, history, culture, politics, folklore, mythology, and much else besides, and therefore represents a valuable addition to the field of annotated works of children's literature that will be helpful to anyone interested in these two fascinating stories and their broader context. * Nikola Novakovic, Libri i Liberi * ...an excellent translation and has been minutely researched. It is a valuable addition not only to translations of the vernacular tales into English, but also to folklore studies, particularly Indian folkloristics. The work may be considered significant as it combines translation with the comparative study of the folktale tradition and the 19th-century Anglo-Western conventions of fantasy fiction * Neena Gupta Vij, Tales Across Time * This study, which seems to us a model of its kind, would fully deserve a French translation because, if it focuses on a highly localized geographical and cultural area, it indicates a path to follow for research on children's and popular culture. * Francois Marcoin, Cahiers Robinson * this volume is an unprecedented contribution to scholarship published in English on children's literature and/or fantasy fiction from South Asia * Abhishek Sarkar, Nordic Journal of Science Fiction and Fantasy Research * This impressive and substantial volume not only provides the text of two tales by the nephews Abanindranath and Gaganendranath of the distinguished poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, but also, with a wealth of editorial material, puts the stories in their literary and historical context -- to the extent of making an uninformed reader like myself suddenly aware of a previously unfamiliar rich treasury of classic writing for children ... This book is surely destined to open its readers' eyes to a range of different perspectives about the impressive variety of manifestations of children's literature throughout the world. * Pat Pinsent, International Board on Books for Young People: UK * Sircar's volume self-consciously redeems the putative "low" and folk literature by the high attention he grants it, and justly so, given the extremely rich texture of the narratives. I dare say everybody, even the most expert readers, will learn a lot from this study. Sircar's book is a result of the long quest of a Bengali folk and Kunstmaerchen aficionado, as is also apparent from a few appearances the author makes in his text. These do not detract from, but add to the book's attractiveness, lending it a passionate flavor. * Hans Harder, Bookbird * This volume is a critical edition of two remarkable fables written in Bengali by the brothers Gaganendranath Tagore (1867-1938) and Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951), master painters and pioneers of Indian Modernism. ... This book offers a meaningful insight into Bengali children's literature of the time. The milieux and periods that saw the rise of modern constructs of 'childhood' are fascinating areas of comparative study. Hence, the international and inter-linguistic acquaintance with texts is most welcome - wherever that literature comes from, and whatever the mechanisms of its dissemination. * Giuseppe Flora, Edinburgh University Press * ... there is hardly anything that Sarkar does not touch upon in the context of early Bangla folklore at least in passing ... the edition is an absolute delight, with its nursery rhymes, beautiful illustrations by Abanindranath Tagore, and an excellent re-translation of these classic tales that deserves to be read by children and adults alike. * Bodhisattva Chattopadhyay, Fantastika Journal * [a] remarkable volume ... [it] is extraordinarily rich and beautiful: even the meticulously detailed footnotes are beautifully written. Throughout, there is a lightness of touch that allows the author to playfully yet trenchantly critique idealogues from several intellectual traditions * David Gordon White, Asian Ethnology * This is a major book mainly for scholars of folktales and fairy tales...[the book] provides numerous references and material for understanding how Indian culture was becoming more independent during the first half of the twentieth century. Indeed, if anyone wants a primer dealing with the early development of folklore and children's literature in India, this is the book to read. * Jack Zipes, Marvels & Tales: Journal of Fairy-Tale Studies * Those for whom the Bengal Renaissance and its literature and personalities is unknown territory can only benefit from this book. * John Howard, Wormwood: Literature of the fantastic, supernatural and decadent. (UK), Vol. 36, 2020 * Overall, this is a most welcome addition to OUP's list. Sircar's translations, without appearing enslaved to the source-texts, read fluently, while maintaining an authentic feel. His scholarship is impeccable, chasing down every association that might be of possible interest, such that readers will find the intellectual journey as absorbing as the tales themselves. * David Rudd, Sicar Review * For readers thirsty to discover the world of Bengali folklore in its theory and tales, this book is definitely a must-read. * Anurima Chanda, Ashoka University , Children's Literature Association Quarterly * Whatever factors define a 'culture area' and a 'subculture', language is one of them...this Bengal-related volume in English makes accessible materials which are particularly relevant and interesting to folklorists in these adjacent linguistic areas. * Anand Mahanand, Lokranta * There is not an iota of doubt that the two works do represent a substantial contribution to the scholarship within its field ... The introductions and critical apparatus [are] excellent. In fact, they can hardly be bettered ... [The translations are] smooth-running, simple without being naive, lucid, at times, scintillating. All the qualities necessary for a book to be friendly towards children are present in the translation ... I insist, given the high quality of the project, illustrations become one of its integral aspects." - Sibaji Bandyopadhyay, formerly Professor of Cultural Studies, Centre for Studies in Social Sciences Calcutta, Kolkata I have read both the manuscripts with great interest. It has been a learning experience for me ... The translator's introductions to both the texts ... reflect her/his substantial research work in the field. The bibliography compiled will also be very useful for further research work. I would say that both the volumes could be very important contributions to the field ... The translations read very well. * Nilanjana Bhattacharya, Assistant Professor, Department of English and Other Modern European Languages, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New Delhi
India
Target group
College/higher education
Interest Age: From 8 to 12 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 223 mm
Width: 144 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
367 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-948675-5 (9780199486755)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Abanindranath Tagore | Gaganendranath Tagore
Fantasy Fictions from the Bengal Renaissance
Abanindranath Tagore's The Make-Believe Prince (Kheerer Putul); Gaganendranath Tagore's Toddy-Cat the Bold (Bhondar Bahadur)
E-Book
06/2018
1st Edition
OUP
€47.51
Available for download
Persons
Abanindranath Tagore was a renowned Indian artist, author, and folklorist. Gaganendranath Tagore was a famous satirical cartoonist, and a pioneer of lithography and design in India. Sanjay Sircar is a scholar in children's literature and fantasy fiction, and has a longstanding interest in various marginalliterary traditions.
Content
Foreword by Peter Hunt
Preface
The Make-Believe Prince (Kheerer Putul)
"A Nineteenth-century Fantasy Fiction from the Bengal Renaissance"
--Sanjay Sircar
1. The Two Queens
2. The King Plans a Sea Voyage
3. The Desires of the Younger Queen
4. The Elder Queen's Desire
5. The King's Illusions
6. The Land of Rubies and the Land of Gold
7. The Land of Pearls and the Land of the King's Daughter
8. The King's Return
9. The Younger Queen's Welcome
10. The Arrival of the Monkey
11. The Elder Queen's Welcome
12. The Sorrow of the Elder Queen
13. The Monkey's Consolation
14. The Disappearance of the Monkey
15. The Monkey's Prediction
16. The Elder Queen's Necklace
17. The Royal Quarrel
18. The Monkey's Complaint
19. The Hovel Renewed
20. The New Pavilion
21. The Witch
22. The Platter of Sweetmeats
23. The Monkey Physician
24. The Imaginary Princeling
25. Arranging a Betrothal
26. The Doll
27. The Bridegroom's Journey
28. The Venerable Shashthi and the Aunts of Sleep
29. The Monkey's Blackmail
30. The Dreamland of Children
31. The Monkey's Quest
32. The Wedding
33. Happy Ever After
Bibliography
Toddy-Cat the Bold (Bhondar Bahadur)
"'In the Manner of Lewis Carroll', But a Very Different Matter"
--Sanjay Sircar
1. Bhondar Arrives: The Call to Battle
2. The Attack of the Two-faced Rakshasa of Chutupalu
3. Farewell to Bhondar Mahal
4. Mishap at Kamalapuli Railway Station, but Soldiering on to the Ancient Apothecary
5. In Front of the Mad King's Garden, and What Happened There
6. The Blue Mountain, the Palm-leaf Sentries and Brother Fox
7. To the Secret Chamber
8. The Top-knotted Old Mother
9. Sleeping
10. Waking
Appendices
About the Authors and Translator
Preface
The Make-Believe Prince (Kheerer Putul)
"A Nineteenth-century Fantasy Fiction from the Bengal Renaissance"
--Sanjay Sircar
1. The Two Queens
2. The King Plans a Sea Voyage
3. The Desires of the Younger Queen
4. The Elder Queen's Desire
5. The King's Illusions
6. The Land of Rubies and the Land of Gold
7. The Land of Pearls and the Land of the King's Daughter
8. The King's Return
9. The Younger Queen's Welcome
10. The Arrival of the Monkey
11. The Elder Queen's Welcome
12. The Sorrow of the Elder Queen
13. The Monkey's Consolation
14. The Disappearance of the Monkey
15. The Monkey's Prediction
16. The Elder Queen's Necklace
17. The Royal Quarrel
18. The Monkey's Complaint
19. The Hovel Renewed
20. The New Pavilion
21. The Witch
22. The Platter of Sweetmeats
23. The Monkey Physician
24. The Imaginary Princeling
25. Arranging a Betrothal
26. The Doll
27. The Bridegroom's Journey
28. The Venerable Shashthi and the Aunts of Sleep
29. The Monkey's Blackmail
30. The Dreamland of Children
31. The Monkey's Quest
32. The Wedding
33. Happy Ever After
Bibliography
Toddy-Cat the Bold (Bhondar Bahadur)
"'In the Manner of Lewis Carroll', But a Very Different Matter"
--Sanjay Sircar
1. Bhondar Arrives: The Call to Battle
2. The Attack of the Two-faced Rakshasa of Chutupalu
3. Farewell to Bhondar Mahal
4. Mishap at Kamalapuli Railway Station, but Soldiering on to the Ancient Apothecary
5. In Front of the Mad King's Garden, and What Happened There
6. The Blue Mountain, the Palm-leaf Sentries and Brother Fox
7. To the Secret Chamber
8. The Top-knotted Old Mother
9. Sleeping
10. Waking
Appendices
About the Authors and Translator