Premchand (1880-1936) remains indisputably the greatest writer of fiction in Hindi and Urdu. The established literary merit of his work is complemented by his historical importance as the fountainhead of modern Hindi fiction. This biography, originally published in Hindi in 1962, has been widely acknowledged as the definitive life of Premchand. It is an indispensable sourcebook for anyone who wishes to understand the originals and milieu of Hindi and Urdu writing in the twentieth century. The Hindi edition won the Sahitya Akademi award in 1963.
About the Author:
Amrit Rai was Premchand's son and the author of Several novels, as well as of a seminal academic study of Indian linguistic history, A House Divided: The Origin and Development of Hindi/Urdu (Oxford India Paperbacks, 1991).
Alok Rai is Premchand's grandson and Professor of English at Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi.
Harish Trivedi is Professor of English at Delhi University.
Experts from Reviews:
' the translator has preserved the quaint Indian flavour of the text Premchand makes a delightful read. It is an excellent introduction to the India of the interwar years.'
-Asian Affairs
'Amrit Rai has done a commendable job in distancing himself from his father and presenting him warts and all.'
-Business Standard
'The translation is done with commendable skill.'
-The Hindu
Introduction
Preface to the First Edition
The Life
Chapters 1-35
Glossary
Chronology
Indexes
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