Product Description
Francis William Bain (1863–1940) was a British writer of fantasy stories that he "claimed "were translated from Sanskrit.
The first of these was A Digit of the Moon (1898), which Bain claimed was his translation of the eighth part of sixteen of a Sanskrit manuscript given to him by a brahmin.
In the story, the king Súryakánta falls in love with the wise and beautiful princess Anangarágá, who will marry only the suitor who asks her a question she cannot answer. The king, with his clever friend Rasakósha, sets off to win the hand of the princess.*
The Indian Stories of Francis W. Bain were published in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. They purport to be translations of unidentified manuscripts. However, these books are not directly derived from Hindu texts or traditions. Bain was eventually unveiled as a writer of orientalist fantasies, but by that time he had a loyal readership who could care less. He continued to press on with the series until there were thirteen volumes. This is thus a harmless literary hoax on a par with Bilitis. Which is not to say that these books don't have their charm, particularly if you like early fantasy writers, such as William Morris or Lord Dunsany. Just don't use them as sources for information about Hindu mythology.**
*...summary from Wikipedia
**...Internet Sacred Text Archives
Be sure to look for other books by F. W. Bain
The first of these was A Digit of the Moon (1898), which Bain claimed was his translation of the eighth part of sixteen of a Sanskrit manuscript given to him by a brahmin.
In the story, the king Súryakánta falls in love with the wise and beautiful princess Anangarágá, who will marry only the suitor who asks her a question she cannot answer. The king, with his clever friend Rasakósha, sets off to win the hand of the princess.*
The Indian Stories of Francis W. Bain were published in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. They purport to be translations of unidentified manuscripts. However, these books are not directly derived from Hindu texts or traditions. Bain was eventually unveiled as a writer of orientalist fantasies, but by that time he had a loyal readership who could care less. He continued to press on with the series until there were thirteen volumes. This is thus a harmless literary hoax on a par with Bilitis. Which is not to say that these books don't have their charm, particularly if you like early fantasy writers, such as William Morris or Lord Dunsany. Just don't use them as sources for information about Hindu mythology.**
*...summary from Wikipedia
**...Internet Sacred Text Archives
Be sure to look for other books by F. W. Bain
