This short piece of esoteric
literature came my way via contacts on Facebook. The book is divided into three
sections: A Serious ToF (Twist of Fate); Yogic Poetry: the Indian Heritage; The
Translator ‘I’. So, I think you will realise this is not a work of interest to
what might be called the ‘common reader’. It is a scholarly piece that will
appeal to those with an interest in poetry, particularly spiritual poetry
expressed as literature, as well as those who have a leaning toward or a
significant interest in Indian myth and religion.
The Twist of Fate referred to above
is an anthology of pieces collected together to present to readers as a way of
gathering funds to help those left in distress by the tornado that hit Oklahoma
in May 2013. And this first chapter of the book is a presentation of the
author’s experiences in contributing to that anthology.
Poetry, let alone Yogic Poetry, is a
genre of which I have little experience. My admiration of the craft lies within
the bounds of the variety of works produced by the two Dylans (Bob and Thomas).
And my knowledge of Indian culture is minimal. So, I found this section both
illuminating and confusing. The many references to the Yogic culture were lost
on me, but the general sense of spirituality came through.
The Translator ‘I’ deals with the
author’s work and attitudes regarding translation as a craft. He is an
acknowledged translator of work from Bengali to English. I’m no linguist, but I
have always admired the skill that allows those who understand more than one
language to translate not just words but meaning. The ability to convey the
essence of a piece written in one language when converting it into another is
almost magical to me.
So, not a general reader’s book, but
a piece of work that will undoubtedly find favour with those interested in the
subject matter discussed. It is to those readers that I recommend the book.
The book is currently only available via Smashwords; link here.
The book is currently only available via Smashwords; link here.
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