Seasons of Splendour by Madhur Jaffrey
"Seasons of Splendour" by Madhur Jaffrey is a captivating retelling of essential myths, fables, and epic narratives from Indian culture, particularly focusing on the Hindu epics, "Ramayana" and "Mahabharata." The collection is structured around the festivities of the Hindu calendar, beginning at the spring equinox, allowing readers to experience these rich stories in a seasonal context. Jaffrey presents these tales through a series of frame narratives that reflect her own childhood experiences of religious celebrations in India, adding a personal touch to the storytelling.
Illustrated by Michael Foreman, the book aims to make these ancient stories accessible to young adult readers and those unfamiliar with Hindu mythology. It offers a significant contribution to literature, particularly in the context of broader discussions around global literary canons, challenging the often Western-centric focus of literary studies. By highlighting the importance of Hindu mythology, "Seasons of Splendour" invites readers to appreciate its place alongside other world traditions, including Greek and Roman narratives. This collection serves as a gateway for those interested in exploring the depth and diversity of Indian storytelling.
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Subject Terms
Seasons of Splendour by Madhur Jaffrey
First published: 1985; illustrated
Subjects: Race and ethnicity, religion, and the supernatural
Type of work: Short Fiction
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Form and Content
Seasons of Splendour retells some of the most characteristic and important myths, fables, and epic stories of India. The collection includes the core stories of the ancient Hindu religious epics, Valmiki’s Ramayana (c. 500 b.c.) and Vyasa’s Mahabharata (c. 350 b.c.), as well as a variety of tales about gods, goddesses, demons, magic, and humble men and women.
Seasons of Splendour retells these tales in a clear and accessible format within a series of frame stories that recount the storyteller’s childhood experiences of religious festivals in India. The stories are arranged in the order of the festivals of the Hindu year, beginning with the spring equinox in April, and are illustrated by Michael Foreman.
Critical Context
Seasons of Splendour provides an accessible introduction to Hindu mythology and epic, an important area of world literature that has received little attention from the English-language publishing and academic worlds. Madhur Jaffrey makes a significant contribution to literature for young adults by providing access to some of the classic stories of India. In the last quarter of the twentieth century, many critics and scholars called for a rethinking of the narrow scope of the traditional Western canon of literature. Seasons of Splendour makes a strong case for considering Hindu mythology as equal in importance to the Greek, Roman, Norse, and Judeo-Christian traditions.