Hank Heifetz – författare

Two prominent translators present the first complete English-language edition of one of India's greatest works of classical literature: the Purananuru. This anthology of four hundred poems by more than 150 poets between the first and third centuries CE in old Tamil-the literary language of ancient Tamilnadu-was composed before Aryan influence had penetrated the south. It is thus a unique testament to pre-Aryan India. Beyond its importance for understanding the development of South Asia's history, culture, religion, and linguistics, the Purananuru is a great work of literature, reflecting accurately and profoundly the life of southern India 2,000 years ago. One of the few works of classical India that confronts life without the insulation of a philosophical facade and that makes no basic assumptions about karma and the afterlife, the Purananuru has universal appeal. It faces the world as a great and unsolved mystery, delving into living and dying, despair, love, poverty, and the changing nature of existence. To this hidden gem of world literature George L.Hart and Hank Heifetz add a helpful appendix, an annotated bibliography, and an excellent introduction describing the work and placing it in its social and historical context.

Two prominent translators present the first complete English-language edition of one of India's greatest works of classical literature: the Purananuru. This anthology of four hundred poems by more than 150 poets between the first and third centuries CE in old Tamil-the literary language of ancient Tamilnadu-was composed before Aryan influence had penetrated the south. It is thus a unique testament to pre-Aryan India. Beyond its importance for understanding the development of South Asia's history, culture, religion, and linguistics, the Purananuru is a great work of literature, reflecting accurately and profoundly the life of southern India 2,000 years ago. One of the few works of classical India that confronts life without the insulation of a philosophical facade and that makes no basic assumptions about karma and the afterlife, the Purananuru has universal appeal. It faces the world as a great and unsolved mystery, delving into living and dying, despair, love, poverty, and the changing nature of existence. To this hidden gem of world literature George L.Hart and Hank Heifetz add a helpful appendix, an annotated bibliography, and an excellent introduction describing the work and placing it in its social and historical context.

For the Lord of the Animals: Poems from the Telugu offers an insightful translation of The Kalahastisvara Satakamu by the 16th-century poet Dhurjati, a prominent figure in the devotional poetry tradition of Andhra Pradesh. Set in the sacred temple town of Kalahasti, dedicated to the god Shiva, the work showcases Dhurjati's emotional devotion to Srikajahastisvara, the Lord of Kalahasti. Drawing from rich Shaivite legends, including the stories of a spider, snake, and elephant each offering their unique devotion to Shiva, the poems reveal deep philosophical reflections, personal meditations on life, sensuality, death, and divine intervention. The poet’s raw emotions, social commentary, and critique of authority, particularly kings and gurus, make the Satakamu a significant piece of Telugu literature that transcends mere religious worship and becomes a reflection of human struggle and self-examination.The translation captures the essence of these devotional poems, often written in ornate, classical meters, by focusing on the meaning and emotional flow rather than rigid adherence to formal metrical patterns. By balancing Sanskrit and Telugu elements, the poems convey an interplay of elevated spiritual language and colloquial expressions, giving them a layered depth. Through these carefully crafted verses, Dhurjati’s poems not only offer praise to the god of Kalahasti but also engage in profound reflections on existence, societal structures, and the relationship between man and divinity. With this work, the reader is introduced to a unique blend of personal lyricism and devotional fervor, inviting both spiritual insight and a deeper understanding of the human condition.This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1987.