Set against the backdrop of colonial India - characterized by a brutal state, opportunistic, feudal landlords and ruthless capitalists - this novel is a grim account of the blind beggar Soordas's struggle against the acquisition of his ancestral land. Weaving together themes such as industrialization, atrocities committed by princely states, the role of women in India's independence movement, and caste and class hierarchies, Playground's concerns remain shockingly relevant. Capturing Premchand's masterful handling of a variety of linguistic registers, Manju Jain's evocative translation shows us the deep humanism of one of India's greatest writers.
- ISBN10 0143102117
- ISBN13 9780143102113
- Publish Date 5 July 2012
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 15 October 2014
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
- Imprint Penguin Classics
- Format Paperback
- Pages 692
- Language English