Ashapurna Devi, one of the foremost Indian women writers, was born in colonial Bengal in 1909. She lived until 1995, witnessing the transitions and transformations that took place in society, culture, and family life during the colonial times and after India gained political independence. Recognized and honoured for her novels, short stories, and poetry in Bengali, Ashapurna wrote more than 240 novels, over 2,000 stories, and 62 books for children, along with many other unpublished essays and letters. Her stories are woven around her familiar world but are universal in appeal. Through her writings, Ashapurna casts an ironical eye on the patriarchal social norms. Exploring Ashapurna’s correspondence, essays, and interviews, this book opens new dimensions to our understanding of her writings. Her non-fiction works, which reveal her concern with the condition of women in society and their role in the family, help us to better understand the mind and art of one of the finest writers of our time.

[Source: Oxford University Press]