{"product_id":"of-ancestors-and-friends","title":"Of Ancestors and Friends","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEmbark on a magnificent, witty, and deeply reflective journey through a lifetime of reading with \u003ci\u003eOf Ancestors and Friends\u003c\/i\u003e by acclaimed Indian writer, critic, and translator Shanta Gokhale!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Book:\u003c\/b\u003e A lifelong bibliophile and literary icon, Shanta Gokhale looks back at her extraordinary reading life, examining the books and writers she has loved, questioned, and returned to time and again. In this brilliant collection of personal essays, she analyzes timeless works through the discerning prism of a modern Indian reader. From iconic Marathi masters like Shri Na Pendse, Kiran Nagarkar, U.R. Ananthamurthy, and Alka Saraogi to world literary giants like Jane Austen, Jean Paul Sartre, Naguib Mahfouz, Salman Rushdie, and Kazuo Ishiguro, Gokhale offers rich, incisive literary criticism. More than just a critique, she treats these writings as living texts that reflect on society, art, and truth-to-power. Interspersed with delightful anecdotes about hunting for rare books in dusty shops, decoding second-hand inscriptions, and humorous encounters with legendary Maharashtrian writers and playwrights, \u003ci\u003eOf Ancestors and Friends\u003c\/i\u003e is an unusual, rewarding memoir about living 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 Author \u0026amp; Critic:\u003c\/b\u003e Written by Shanta Gokhale, a towering figure in Indian literature known for her razor-sharp criticism, translation work, and cultural journalism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRich Literary Analysis:\u003c\/b\u003e Bridges regional Indian literature and global classics, offering profound insights into writers ranging from Kiran Nagarkar to Jane Austen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCharming Personal Anecdotes:\u003c\/b\u003e Filled with witty stories about bookstore hunting, book-borrowing etiquette, and personal encounters with renowned playwrights and authors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Perfect Gift:\u003c\/b\u003e An enriching, intellectual treasure for avid readers, book collectors, writers, and lovers of literary memoirs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"BEETLE BOOK SHOP","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52736832405787,"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.jpg?v=1785992991","url":"https:\/\/beetlebookshop.com\/products\/of-ancestors-and-friends","provider":"Beetle Book Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}