Gora - Softcover

Tagore, Rabindranath

Softcover

ISBN 10: 817167755X ISBN 13: 9788171677559

Publisher: Rupa Publications India, 2002

Synopsis

Gora (1910) is Rabindranath Tagore’s fifth novel and is widely regarded as his masterpiece. Exploring the social, cultural, religious, and political life of nineteenth-century urban middle-class Bengal, it stands as a landmark in the history of the Bengali novel. The story reflects Tagore’s own transition from Hindu revivalism to universal brotherhood, nationalism to internationalism, and rigid Brahmanism to a more humanistic spirituality. The novel was translated into English by W.W. Pearson in 1924.

More than just a novel, Gora is an epic portrayal of India in a period of profound change, capturing the intellectual awakening and social upheaval experienced by the new intelligentsia.

No other work offers such a masterful analysis of India’s complex social fabric, with its deep contradictions, or the character of Indian nationalism—rooted in resurgent Hinduism yet reaching toward universal humanism. Despite the extensive philosophical debates inherent to its themes, Tagore skillfully maintains a compelling narrative that keeps readers engaged until the very end.

About this title

About the Author

One of India’s most cherished renaissance figures, Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was a prolific poet, novelist, short-story writer, essayist, dramatist, painter, composer, educationist, and thinker. He modernized Bengali literature by moving it away from rigid classical forms and linguistic structures, putting India firmly on the world literary map. Tagore became the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his acclaimed work Gitanjali (Song Offerings).

Known for masterpieces such as Gitanjali, Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World), his writings are celebrated worldwide for their profound exploration of political, social, religious, and aesthetic themes. Beyond literature, Tagore was an innovator in education and a champion of the "One World" philosophy, making him a living presence whose influence continues to inspire across generations and borders.

Edition details

• Publisher: Rupa Publications India
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 817167755X
• ISBN 13: 9788171677559
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 570