{"product_id":"of-ancestors-and-friends-1","title":"Of Ancestors and Friends","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmbark on a magnificent journey through a lifetime of reading, writing, and literary companionship with \u003ci\u003eOf Ancestors and Friends\u003c\/i\u003e by acclaimed writer, critic, and translator Shanta Gokhale!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Book:\u003c\/b\u003e As a lifelong bibliophile and towering figure in Indian letters, Shanta Gokhale looks back at her extraordinary reading life, examining the masterworks and writers she has loved, questioned, and returned to across the decades. In this collection of thoughtful, deeply analytical personal essays, Gokhale reads world literature through the sharp, discerning prism of a modern Indian sensibility.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom critical engagements with literary giants like Shri Na Pendse, Kiran Nagarkar, U.R. Ananthamurthy, and Alka Saraogi alongside Jane Austen, Jean-Paul Sartre, Naguib Mahfouz, Salman Rushdie, and Kazuo Ishiguro, \u003ci\u003eOf Ancestors and Friends\u003c\/i\u003e treats books as living texts. Gokhale explores how literature speaks truth to power, dissects the intricate art of translation, and recounts delightful anecdotes from her own book-hunting days—discovering rare volumes in dusty second-hand shops, decoding curious inscriptions, and pondering the ethics of \"borrowing\" books permanently. Sparking with wit, warmth, and fierce intellect, this is a rare and rewarding memoir about what it means to live alongside books.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Benefits:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAcclaimed Literary Voice:\u003c\/b\u003e Written by Shanta Gokhale, one of India's most respected cultural critics, authors, and translators.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eBridge Across Literatures:\u003c\/b\u003e Seamlessly weaves together regional Indian masterpieces and global classics, offering fresh, insightful perspectives on both.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRich Personal Anecdotes:\u003c\/b\u003e Filled with charming reflections on bookselling, second-hand browsing, and personal encounters with legendary playwrights and authors from Maharashtra.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Perfect Gift:\u003c\/b\u003e An absolute treasure for book lovers, writers, translators, students of literature, and anyone who cherishes the intimate bond between reader and page.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"BEETLE BOOK SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52737269301531,"sku":null,"price":509.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/2150\/0699\/files\/81GBIGcOH9L._SL1500__1.jpg?v=1786006204","url":"https:\/\/beetlebookshop.com\/products\/of-ancestors-and-friends-1","provider":"Beetle Book Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}