Cloud of Longing: A New Translation and Eco-Aesthetic Study of Kalidasa's Meghaduta

The book "The Cloud of Longing" is a full-length study and new translation of Kalidasa's Meghaduta, focusing on the poem's interfacing of nature, feeling, figuration, and mythic memory. It offers an extended look at how nature was envisioned by classical India's supreme poet and speaks to contemporary readers and those committed to developing a more in-depth experience of the natural world.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 248 pages
Publication date: 22 November 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

A comprehensive exploration and fresh interpretation of the renowned Sanskrit poet Kalidasa's celebrated Meghaduta, commonly known as "The Cloud Messenger," is the subject of The Cloud of Longing. This work delves into the poem's intricate interplay between nature, emotion, figuration, and mythic memory, highlighting its unique perspective on the natural world in the context of the interplay between language and love, which serves as the poem's defining characteristic (lakshana). In addition to a meticulous analysis of the poem's approximately 111 verses, The Cloud of Longing provides a comprehensive examination of how classical India's supreme poet envisioned nature as he depicted a cloud's imagined journey across the fields, valleys, rivers, mountains, and towns of classical India. This in-depth and sustained reading of Meghaduta will resonate with contemporary readers as well as those who are dedicated to deepening their understanding of the natural world.

Furthermore, The Cloud of Longing fills a significant gap in the translation of classical Indian texts and contributes to the study of world literature, religion, and the emerging field of integrative environmental disciplines. By offering a fresh perspective on the Meghaduta, this work contributes to our understanding of the rich tapestry of classical Indian literature and its enduring relevance in the modern world.

Weight: 320g
Dimension: 155 x 236 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197566640