Theater of Memory: The Plays of Kalidasa

by Kālidāsa, Edwin Gerow (Translator), David Gitomer (Translator)

This volume offers comprehensive analyses and new translations of Kalidasa's three extant plays: "Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection," "Urvasi Won by Valor," and "Malavika and Agnimitra."

Genres: Plays, India, Theatre

387 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 1984

About the author

Poetry of Indian dramatist and lyric poet Kalidasa (circa 375-circa 415) represents the height of the kavya style, which his epic poem Raghuvamsha and his lyric poem Meghaduta exemplify.

Poeple widely regard Kālidāsa (Devanāgarī: कालिदास "servant of Kali") as the greatest renowned writer in the classical Sanskrit language.

We know nothing with certainty about the life of Kālidāsa apart from works but speculate about the place where he lived or the dates of his birth and death. According to legend, his known beauty brought him to the attention of Vidyottama, princess, who married him.
Kālidāsa, however, legendarily lacked much education, and his ignorance and coarseness shamed the princess. A devoted worshipper of Kali (by other accounts of Saraswati), Kālidāsa is said to have called upon his goddess for help when he was going to commit suicide in a well after he was humiliated by his wife, and was rewarded with a sudden and extraordinary gift of wit. He is then said to have become the most brilliant of the "nine gems" at the court of the king Vikramaditya of Ujjain. Legend also has it that he was murdered by a courtesan in Sri Lanka during the reign of Kumaradasa.

Reviews

[Erin Ahern]

I read the introduction and the play Sakuntala and The Ring of Recollection (which was over 130 pages) so I’m counting it. I had to read it for class and do a discussion on it but I really enjoyed it. Lots of nature imagery which was beautiful

[Taylor Swift Scholar]

3.5 stars. All three of these plays are about kings pining for hot young ladies who are not their wives (to become a third or fourth wife). This is hard for me to relate to from my perspective as a woman in 2023 America. However, the love poetry and the way that nature mirrored the lovers' mental states was beautiful. The essays at the beginning of the book provided essential context that helped me to appreciate the plays more.

[Susan]

Beautiful translations of Kalidasa's plays and the essays enlighten you in all the corners you'd otherwise miss. Barbara Stoler Miller is a translator who was able to recreate the poetry without losing the meaning.

[Susan]

Read these three plays for SJC Winter Classics, 1/6-1/10/25. Beautiful poetry and observation of nature.

“Like one who doubts the existence/
of an elephant who walks in front of him/
but feels convinced by seeing footprints,/
my mind has taken strange turns”. (Sakuntala and the Ring of Recollection)

[Kyra Krishna]

Sakuntala: The Ring of Recollection, pp. 1-41 and 85-176.

[lizziebeth]

[I read this translation of Śakuntalā and the ring of recollection for class]