The Home and the World (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) [Mass Market Paperback]

Rabindranath Tagore (Author), Surendranath Tagore (Translator), Anita Desai (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1996 | Series: Penguin Twentieth Century Classics

Set on a Bengali noble's estate in 1908, this is both a love story and a novel of political awakening. The central character, Bimala, is torn between the duties owed to her husband, Nikhil, and the demands made on her by the radical leader, Sandip. Her attempts to resolve the irreconciliable pressures of the home and world reflect the conflict in India itself, and the tragic outcome foreshadows the unrest that accompanied Partition in 1947.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Bengali (translation) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Classics (March 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140181873
• ISBN-13: 978-0140181876
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,330 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A complex allegory, August 26, 2001

By 

Luan Gaines "luansos" (Dana Point, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Home and the World (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

A prolific Bengalese writer, Tagore structured this novel such that three main characters represent the turbulence of the Partition that was yet to come to India in 1947. Nikhil is married to Bimala, living in the traditional domestic manner; for herself, Bimala has no expectation of her life ever deviating from her wifely path. The concept of "Swadeshi", a renewed appreciation of everything Indian, and a denial of everything British, particularly British imported goods and grains, rages throughout the country. The egocentric Sandip, a guest in Nikhil's home, is a fierce proponant of Swadeshi. Sandip finds himself passionately attracted to Bimala; he idealizes her as the epitome of "Mother" India, and pursues Bimala without reservation. Flattered by Sandip's attention, Bimala begins to question the nature of her marriage, and the three embark upon an emotional journey that will forever alter their lives, just as India begins a lengthy period of upheaval and unrest. Of the three, Sandip is transparantly shallow, while Nikhil thoughtfully considers every aspect before embarking on a course of action. Both men indulge in lengthy discourses, but the introduction by Anita Desai does much to frame this novel in the appropriate perspective. The allegorical nature of this tale is evident as the characters plunge headlong into the future.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars complex moral tale, October 7, 2000

By 

George Schaefer - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Home and the World (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book is largely a parable about the conflicts in Bengal in the early twentieth century. Tagore uses a triangle of husband and wife and outside suitor. Bimala, the wife is a sort of central figure as the novel largely revolves around her conflicting feelings towards both her husband Nikhil and Sandip. She feels excited by Sandip's passion but also has a bond with her husband. Nikhil is the reserved and dignified religious man who is not swayed by the mob mentality that was sweeping through the Bengal state. Sandip is the passionate, xenophobic leader pushing for the immediate gain. The narrative is written threefold. All three characters take turns telling the story from their own point of view. This is an interesting effect that adds dimension to the tale. Tagore obviously feels empathy towards Nikhil but he refrains from being too judgmental toward Sandip. Bimala becomes the most sympathetic character simply because she faces the most ambivalence in the book. There are many blatant political overtures in this book but I find that it works well as human drama as well. You needn't be knowledgeable about the conflicts in India to appreciate the moral dilemmas presented in this tale. Reading this book made it easy to understand why Tagore was awarded a Nobel Prize.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Difficult, but rewarding., January 12, 2000

By 

"lucyvanpelt79" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Home and the World (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)

Tagore is Bengali, and apparently, the Bengali style is a higly rhetorical, ornate one. Therefore, the dialogue can come off sounding stiff and unnatural, and requires some getting used to. Beyond the artifice of the language, however, the characterizations are the real strength of this book. The internal struggle of Bimala, between her noble husband, Nikhil, and the charismatic Sandip, is a beautiful parallel to the struggle the Indian people themselves have experienced, between righteous but non-violent indignation, and the frustration of an occupied land, feeding a desire for violent change. It is as this sort of parable that The Home and the World succeeds best.