The Penguin Book of Classical Indian Love Stories and Lyrics

The anthology focuses on the multi-faceted landscape of romance, overseen by Kamadeva, the ancient Indian god of love. The collection explicitly contrasts universally celebrated literary masterpieces with obscure regional folktales, tracking how physical passion, emotional vulnerability, and spiritual devotion have been expressed across Indian history

Ruskin Bond is one of India's most cherished and prolific English-language writers. Born in 1934, he won the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize at just seventeen for his debut novel, The Room on the Roof. Over a career spanning seven decades, he has written over 500 short stories, essays, and children's books. He was honored with the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1993, the Padma Shri in 1999, and the Padma Bhushan in 2014 for his monumental contribution to Indian literature

• • The book maps the diverse spectrum of romance through a wide variety of historical narratives. It features foundational texts like Kalidasa’s Meghadutam and Prince Ilango Adigal’s Shilappadikaram alongside lesser-known 7th to 12th-century poets like Damodaragupta and Janna. The content covers complex themes ranging from high-born individuals risking their standing for courtesans to queens betraying royalty for ordinary stable hands. It also contains sensory lyrics regarding physical intimacy by poets Amaru and Mayaru, alongside regional 19th-century folk legends from Kashmir, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan