Lost Jewels and other stories English 2023

Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was a prolific writer during the colonial period and is acclaimed for his lyricism, colloquialism and naturalism. His stories explored socio-political hypocrisies, ethnical prejudices, class-based discrimination, stereotypical characters in a domestic set-up, and more in a largely conventional society. Through his work, he resisted the rigid linguistic moulds and modernised Bengali art. Be it the yearning to belong in ‘Kabuliwala,’ the supernatural mystery in ‘The Living and the Dead,’ the ways in which class affects humanity in‘The Postmaster’ or the impact of materialism in ‘The Lost Jewels’ — Tagore’s stories reflect a kaleidoscope of human emotions, firmly etched on a sensitive landscape. Withstanding societal evolution, his stories created a profound association between his characters and the readers. While almost eighty years have passed since his last contribution to literature, few names manage to evoke emotions as acute as Tagore’s. The Lost Jewels and Other Stories is a celebration of one of India’s greatest writers, with some of his most emblematic stories, in his inimitable style, language and humour including ‘The Home-Coming,’ ‘The Skeleton,’ ‘Giribala,’ and ‘The River Stairs.’