The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told

I’m a huge fan of translated literature, and Arunava Sinha has quickly become one of my favourite translators. Thanks to his incredible work, I’ve had the chance to discover so many beautiful stories that I might never have come across otherwise. One recent gem I enjoyed is “The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told,” a collection that features Sinha’s personal picks.

It’s like a thoughtfully curated journey through Bengali storytelling, offering a mix of poignant and profound tales that span a range of themes and emotions. Despite the diverse stories, there’s something universally relatable about them.

I especially enjoyed revisiting classics like “The Kabuliwallah,” “Urvashi,” and “Johny” by Mahasweta Devi, as well as “Two Magicians” by Satyajit Ray. But beyond these familiar favourites, there were many new stories for me to explore.

While I thoroughly enjoyed exploring these narratives, I couldn’t help but feel that the collection leaned heavily on traditional stories. A sprinkling of contemporary works could have added a modern touch and made the anthology feel more balanced. Including voices from today’s Bengali writers might have broadened the appeal and offered a more rounded view of the current literary landscape.

Sinha’s talent as a translator is evident throughout, but there were moments when the narrative felt a bit stiff and some of the original nuances seemed to fade. Even so, this collection is a wonderful gateway into Bengali literature.

Despite a few minor drawbacks, The Greatest Bengali Stories Ever Told” is a worthy read and a valuable introduction to Bengali literature. Readers who appreciate classics, short stories, and translated works might enjoy this collection a lot.

Buy your copy here on Amazon

About the Translator

Arunava Sinha translates classic, modern and contemporary Bengali fiction and nonfiction into English, and English fiction, non-fiction and poetry into Bengali. He also translates from Hindi into English and Bengali. Eighty-two of his translations have been published so far.

I’ve selected this book as my pick for the #ReadingWithMuffy challenge, for the prompt – translated books.