Indian Kavya Literature Vol. V: The Bold Style (Saktibhadra to Dhanapala)

It is multi-volume series work. the main pupose of this work is literary criticism, evaluating a great tradition of literature and to present comprehensive study of sanskrit literature. So far 6 volumes have been published. Each volume presents literature itself in successive periods of its development.

Volume V of this study displays some of the riches and diversity of Indian culture in the ninth and tenth centuries. We have a novel in the bold or beautiful style by the fanciful Dhanapala and a more realistic, sometimes grim, one by Siddha. Dhanavalu writing in Apabhramsa is alternately fantastic in action and realistic in emotion and motives. The campus are evidently bold and varied exploring language, Silanka inserting even a complete tragic play. Upatissa seeks a grand style in Pali prose for his 'biography' of an allegorical heroine. This Buddhist legend may bring us lastly to the various Buddhist and Jaina versions of the story of Rama, which take us to Tibet and Khotan, or Cambodia and Thailand, as well as India before 'Valmiki', and are more marvellous than his version followed by the Old Javanese kakawin.

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