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Compared to the western epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata are more complete story of Hindu, religious, cultural and social imagination and more exact narration of evolutionary rise of man.
In this book, William Buck has succeeded better than anyone else in conveying the spirit of the original. The task of presenting a faithful image of the original text, its metaphysical nuances as well as its chronological sequence the world`s largest epic in a small book is a stupendous task.
Mainly as a narration, the version of William Buck will serve as an interesting and complete tale to the English speaking reader. Valmiki was called the Adikavi or "first poet" of Sanskrit literature and some of his remarkable talent shines forth in the English rendering. The reader will find pleasure in reading it aloud to himself or the others.
Reviews:
"For the purpose of the general reader, the book is flawless: a marvellous tale, told with all the elan of Tolkien, charmingly but unobtrusively illustrated, and with an introduction by a prominent Sanskritist." - Pacific Affairs
"The task of presenting a faithful image of the original though so greatly reduced in size, is here on the whole fulfilled to a truly remarkable degree... To call it inspired is no overstatement." The Asian Student
"...Buck has succeeded better than anyone else in conveying the spirit of the original." - Choice
"...the rendering has the true spirit and flavour of the original scripture. The work is not only a mere translation but stands as a literary work of great significance." - Journal of Religious Studies
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