Ruth Vanita Book order

An important anthology, On the Edge shifts the focus on stories and characters who have, for far too long, remained in the shadows and brings them (and us) into the light.

The book delves into the dialogues found within epics, showcasing discussions among diverse characters from various societal backgrounds. It critically examines issues of discrimination related to gender, varna, poverty, age, and disability, exploring the implications of dharmas associated with singleness, friendship, marriage, parenting, and leadership. Through these debates, it challenges societal norms and advocates for a more equitable understanding of roles and responsibilities.

For Mahadevi Varma, her animal companions were her chosen family. This family comes alive in Mahadevi's lyrical prose, depicting the animals' relationships with her, each other, and the human inhabitants of her home and her school. In this first-ever translation of a little-known classic, Ruth Vanita brilliantly captures Mahadevi's empathetic imagination, sparkling wit, and intense observation of detail. In her introduction, Vanita illuminates Mahadevi's feminist and literary legacy, her powerful indictment of human cruelty, and how her prose sprang from the fount of her feelings for animals. -From Amazon

Set against the backdrop of King George the Third's fiftieth birthday gala in Lucknow, the story explores the passionate romance between Chapla Bai, a courtesan from Kashi, and the poet Nafis Bai. Their intense connection unfolds over two summers, enriched by the support of Nafis's friends, Insha, Rangin, and Sharad. As they exchange letters and verses, their love blossoms, but the challenge of distance looms when Chapla returns home. The narrative delves into themes of desire, longing, and the struggle to maintain a relationship across separation.