Ghazals of Ghalib
compare prices
Ghazals of Ghalib
by
4.83 of 5 stars
This imaginative approach to the work of the Urdu poet Ghalib (1797-1869) presents highly original renderings, made by seven well-known American po... read full description

reviews

Dec 19, 2009
Rodney rated it: 5 of 5 stars
It’s tempting to read Aijaz Ahmad’s approach to translating Mirza Ghalib, giant of the modern Urdu-language ghazal, against his later Marxist criticism. Ahmad’s intro lays stress on Ghalib’s role as witness of a declining Mughal world being steamrolled by the British, and lends a postcolonial shading to the poet’s special brand of wistfulness. But his politics is really in the book’s approach to translation. Other translators have only interpreted the poems; Ahmad’s point is to change them. His More...
0 comments like (1 person liked it)
Jan 06, 2011
Arlene rated it: 5 of 5 stars
This is an amazing volume based on the ghazals of Mirza Ghalib. I just love the literal translation of the verses followed by the exciting ways that poets like Thomas Fitzsimmons, William Hunt, W.S Merwin, David Ray, Adrienne Rich, William Stafford, and Mark Strand interpret them using their own words.

Here's a fascinating example (Ghazal XIX)—

first, the literal translation by Aijaz Ahmad:
On every step, the distance of the goal from me is evident;
At my own spe
More...
0 comments like
Dec 12, 2011
Sarah rated it: 5 of 5 stars
An astoundingly sensitive approach to the vagaries of translation which considers not merely form or vocabulary, but the true impetus of religious/philosophical and political meditation within the ghazal, and how it might best find itself within English representations. A complete joy for a poet or a cultural scholar, complete with the original Urdu. I am in love with this book.
0 comments like
Apr 29, 2008
Jeff rated it: 5 of 5 stars
Excellent format offers the original, transliteration, literal translation and a few versions by mostly esteemed poets. Ghalib is brilliant.
0 comments like
Jan 20, 2012
Nizam rated it: 5 of 5 stars
like
Sep 29, 2011
Uday rated it: 4 of 5 stars
like
Sep 09, 2011
Muzammil is currently reading it
like
Sep 08, 2011
Nawaz added it
like
Sep 06, 2011
Siddharth marked it as to-read
like
Aug 09, 2011
Ayesha added it
like
Jul 24, 2011
Vikas added it
like
Jun 28, 2011
Huma marked it as to-read
1 comment like
Jun 13, 2011
Marcie marked it as to-read
like
May 31, 2011
Kabir added it
like
May 27, 2011
Inno rated it: 5 of 5 stars
like
May 15, 2011
Nesar added it
like
May 08, 2011
Madeline marked it as to-read
like
Mar 06, 2011
Haseebullah marked it as to-read
like
Mar 04, 2011
Amrita rated it: 5 of 5 stars
like
Feb 11, 2011
Manasi added it
like
Feb 10, 2011
nuaristan added it
like
Jan 25, 2011
EeeJay marked it as to-read
like
Nov 29, 2010
John marked it as to-read
like
Jul 06, 2010
Amy rated it: 5 of 5 stars
like
Jun 09, 2010
Ayushi marked it as to-read
like
May 26, 2010
anonymous marked it as to-read
like
May 20, 2010
Alicia rated it: 4 of 5 stars
like
May 07, 2010
woman on a hot tin moon rated it: 5 of 5 stars
like
May 07, 2010
Bangaloregirl marked it as to-read
like
Jan 21, 2010
Shirin marked it as to-read
like