Michael Madhusudan Dutt’s exclusive role in carrying forward Bengali literature – especially poetry and drama – into the modern era, remains uncontested. He continues to be remembered not only for his contribution to Bengali language and literature, but also for the unique place he occupied in the cultural history of Bengal. His life not only helps us understand the dynamics of what is often called the Bengal renaissance, but also the socio-cultural and literary history of nineteenth-century Bengal. Dutt’s letters offer an excellent point of entry into the heart and mind of this great poet. Nowhere else did he express himself as freely as he did in his letters which provide invaluable insights into his life, character, and, above all, his art. Although originally written in English, no standard edition of his letters is in existence. The present volume, edited by Ghulam Murshid, provides extensive annotations to individual letters, brief biographical sketches of their recipients, as well as glimpses of the poet’s life.
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