He sets his eyes upon the people, the beautiful places and the spectacular wildlife. He captures the adventure and joy filled in the way of life in the hills vividly. This collection of fiction and non-fiction works is a must-read for ardent Ruskin Bond fans.

    Emerging from many Indian cultures and eras, the poems collected here reflect a variety of erotic and spiritual passions, and celebrate the powerful role of desire–both male and female–in the intricate dance of existence. From the twelfth-century female poet Mahadeviyakka to the twentieth-century Nobel Prize winner Rabindranath Tagore to such contemporary poets as Kamala Das and Vikram Seth, this glittering tapestry of lyric voices beautifully and sensually evokes the transfiguring force of love.

    Set in the Bengal of Emperor Jehangir's time, Kapalkundala tells the story of Nabakumar, a young woman named Kapalkundala whom he rescues from a tantric intent on human sacrifice, and the beautiful Lutfunnisa who has sold her heart on marrying him. In Bishabriksha (The Poison Tree), set in Bankimchandra's own time, Nagendra is torn between his devoted wife Suryamukhi and the bewitching young widow Kundanandini. Unable to prioritize either of the women he cares for, Nagendra ends up losing both. Indira is a lighthearted tale of playful intrigues: Upendra does not realize that his wife Indira is now working as a cook in his friend's house, and is given a royal run-around by Indira and Subhasini, her employer. Krishnakanta's Will is a tragedy of lust, infidelity, greed and death revolving around Govindalal, his wife Bhramar, the attractive widow Rohini, and a stolen will. psychologically taut tale; it is the first Indian novel where characters narrate their stories in the first person.

    756-c. 815), the bad boy of Abbasid poetry. One of the greatest of Arabic poets -- indeed, the greatest in the opinion of some critics -- Abu Nuwas wrote accomplished verse that demonstrated his technical mastery of all the major genres. However, his poems on wine (khamriyyat), homosexual love (mudhakkarat) and ribaldry (majouniyyat) are his best known and have earned him his notoriety. These poems often landed him in trouble and prison during his lifetime and, even today, are still subject to censorship by the guardians of public morality. As his talent makes him difficult to ignore, he is frequently subject to misrepresentation. Abu Nuwas' poetry is characterised by an astonishing lack of inhibition and one of the most attractive features of his diwan is the extent to which his verse reveals its author's personality. What emerges is a likeable, if rather louche, character with an outrageous sense of humour, sharp wit, unaccompanied by malice, and considerable sensibility who let no convention save, on occasion, the order of the caliph, restrain him in his pursuit of life's sensual pleasures. In his khamriyyat, Abu Nuwas offers a glimpse of the hedonistic and dissipated world he inhabited: the world of Baghdad high society at the zenith of the Abbasid caliphate. Yet there is also a modern and up-to-date feel about his poetry that makes it ideal for presentation to an English-speaking readership, some twelve centuries after his death.

    We journey with her as she recounts a lifetime of comforting rituals, tantalizing textures, colors, and fragrances, exquisite jewels and adornments, and assorted beauty and health secrets passed through generations of women by word of mouth.In Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet, Sharada Dwivedi, a native of India, and Shalini Devi Holkar, an Indian princess by marriage, draw on the oral histories of privileged Indian women to capture and revive their many wonderful and wise beauty traditions. The result is a rich cultural tapestry, filled with ancient remedies, recipes, and tonics used to soften skin, silken hair, enrich the body, and lift the spirit like no store-bought products can. Additionally, the book offers a glossary of plants, flowers, spices, and grains and simple home remedies for women in all stages of life—from puberty to pregnancy to menopause—including:Almond-Saffron for cleansing and exfoliationPapaya-Mint-Tea for acne and pimplesCream & Honey for dry skin and wrinklesCress & Rosewater for post-natal strengthTulsi Kadha (Basil Tea) for coughs or morning sicknessReplete with gorgeous photos and illustrations from a bygone era, Almond Eyes, Lotus Feet is a treasure trove of time-honored health and beauty customs that will delight the senses of modern women everywhere.

    It contains Tughlaq, Hayavana, Bali: The Sacrifice, and Naga-Mandala.

    He was dedicated to the study of Plato and Aristotle, writing comprehensive commentaries on the great Greek philosophers who introduced Europe to the breadth of Greek philosophy. Known as one of the greatest interpreters of Aristotle, he provided a link between ancient and modern thought. Supports history-social science context standards mandating exploration of intellectual exchanges and contributions of Muslim scholars, and their influence on the science, geography, mathematics, philosophy, and medicine of later civilizations.

    

    Filled with characteristic warmth, gentle humour and keen observations on daily life, this collection brings together some of the finest short fiction by one of India’s best-loved authors.