TARA: A MAHRATTA TALE

"For its rapid action, in fact, we have seldom read a better story, or onewhich is more full of incidents, sanguinary, trenchant, and robust."

"A true and a wonderfully well-sustained piece of Oriental life andstriking history."

"This is a very remarkable book. It is a determined attempt to bringthe interior Hindoo and Mussulman life of a great Mahratta provinceduring the most exciting times home to the hearts and understandings ofEnglishmen, to interest them in people with whom they have nothingexcept human nature in common."

"'Tara' is a unique work. There is nothing like it in the Englishliterature of fiction. No other writer has ever attempted the portrayal ofIndian life, society, and interests, entirely free from any Europeanadmixture of character or incident. The author himself now does so forthe first time. 'The Confessions of a Thug' related to British jurisdictionin India. 'Tippoo Sultan' dealt with the gallant struggles of thatmonarch against the encroaching British power, but 'Tara' is all Indian."

"It is seldom that we meet with a work of fiction executed with anythinglike the conscientious care and minute elaboration of Captain MeadowsTaylor's Indian Tale. His characters have mostly the clearness and individualityof portraits, and his scenery exhibits all the marked and decisivefeatures of photographs taken on the spot. The work throughout isevidently that of a master of Oriental life and character in love with hissubject, to whom nothing appears trivial or beneath notice that canillustrate the peculiar traits of Asiatic nature, or kindle an enthusiasm forknowing more of the history, manners, and usages of our fellow-subjectsin the east."

"In no one part of the work has Captain Taylor shown more thorough artthan in those pages in which he details the features of the Hindoo andMahomedan family life. He never overloads; his characters are not layfigures attired in triple folds of gorgeous robes to hide their nakedness.With a few subtle touches he shows us the interior life of each household,and the morning springs of every character, and he leaves us to fill in theobvious details for ourselves."

"Now listen, all ye Brahmuns; I am true and pure, and I am Sutee henceforth."
P. 461.

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TARA
A MAHRATTA TALE

BY
MEADOWS TAYLOR,
C.S.I.