River of Fire

Of all the novels about India, its history, and the richness of its culture, River of Fire is probably the most complex but also the most expansive and, at times, lyrical. This is the English version of Aag Ka Darya (Published in 1959) and even though there is always a loss in the act of translation, the novel still carries the narrative beauty of the original.The Urdu version won the highest Indian literary award and also some Pakistani awards. I believe that if the novel had been translated earlier, Hyder would have been added to the list of major world writers whose works are anthologized and taught in the Western academy. But better late than never!Anyone interested in reading a story that narrates two thousand years of Indian history (major epochs) through recurring characters should read this book. But bear in mind that a book cannot carry the burden of an entire culture and would render its beauty only to the inquisitive and informed readers.

Sweeping tale of Indian history. Shows Ms. Hyders erudition! The fact that she was a product of India's composite culture comes through very clearly.

Terrific Book.

Buy this novel and read it. It's a classic of world literature, especially worthwhile for anyone interested in South Asian, post-colonial, or feminist literature. The "River of Fire" refers to the Buddha's Fire Sermon via T.S. Eliot's "The Wasteland." The one caveat is that the translation was done by Qurratulain Hyder herself. In places it's clear that the prose is inadequate to the novel's ideas and structure. My hope is someone worthy eventually gives this novel the translation it deserves.

I read this book after reading all the praise. But the book is a bore with nothing memorable about it.

A great book to read over and over again. The writer finished the book in 1954 but reveals signs of events that took place 17 years later with such a deep insight, it is just amazing. Its a very thorough analysis of the mixing of cultures and religions which is India, with an incisive and eye opening view.

The story begins with Nilambar Gautam, a forest university student who travels the country at the time when Buddhist ideas were sweeping through India, he mets Hari Shanker a Buddhist and falls in love with Champa, the time passes and the next Gautam, Hari Shanker and Champa surface in new era- this time it is Moghul era and the arrival of Islam in India. Abul Mansoor Kamaluddin arrives from Baghdad and meets Champa, Hari and Gautam. The characters depict the civilisational conflicts, the mingling of the two great religions and the shaping of the new nation. The third era begins with the Europian advent in Asia and with Cyril Ashley, an English, the fourth character arrives in the book. The four characters return in successive periods in different roles until the bloody partition changes the geographical boundaries of the country. The magnificent description, the vast continuum of time and the canvas of the novel places it at par with Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, if not above. Had the book translated when it had been written, the author would have been ranked above Kundera and Marquez today.

This is one of the finest pieces of literature I have read. There is history, philosophy, psychology and above all human relationship. I like the engaging style, the weaving of the events and the passion that can be seen through the pages.

The pages are all messed up - it jumps from page 232 to 185, then back up to 232 and jumps again to 281 - so effectively 50 pages in the middle of the book are entirely missing.

Well to be honest,it is a great book. I purchased it for somebody. He is a student of literature. My business was just to get him the book.I recommend the seller to all customers.

A writing as lucid as Ganga at Gangotri

Good

excellent read