Among all the ancient literatures, that of India is... undoubtedly in
intrinsic value and aesthetic merit second only to that of Greece. -from
the Introduction It is the oldest recognized language on the
planet-indeed, Sanskrit was considered the language of the gods by
ancient Indians. This is perhaps the first truly accessible volume ever
published on the literature of the grand philosophers and poets of
ancient India, and its power and importance has not diminished since it
first appeared in 1900. This compact yet comprehensive overview of
Sanskrit works covers the Rigveda, the Sutras, the epics, lyric poetry,
drama, fairy tales & fables, and more. With profound insights into the
mindsets of ancient and medieval India, this important volume will
please students of history, world literature, and comparative
linguistics. British scholar ARTHUR A. MACDONELL (1854-1930) was Boden
Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford University. He is also the author of A
Vedic Reader for Students, Sanskrit Grammar for Students, and India's
Past: A Survey of Her Literatures, Religions, Languages and Antiquities.