Gems of Urdu Literature

This elegantly crafted box set combines two exceptional collections of classical and early modern Urdu poetry and prose, masterfully translated into English for today's readers.

Complete with brief biographies and contextual essays, these anthologies also trace a fascinating history of pre-modern Urdu literature. In 'A Thousand Yearnings', Ralph Russell presents a thoughtfully curated selection of literary short stories, popular tales, love poetry by Mir and Ghalib, insightful essays, and a condensed version of the renowned novel 'Umrao Jan Ada'. Meanwhile, Saif Mahmood's best-selling 'Beloved Delhi' explores the lives and works of the finest classical Urdu poets, offering a captivating portrait of late-Mughal Delhi through their biographies and translated poetry, including their most famous ghazals.