Classical Telugu Poetry

This groundbreaking anthology opens a window on a thousand years of classical poetry in Telugu, the mellifluous language of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. The classical tradition in Telugu is one of the richest yet least explored of all South Asian literatures. This authoritative volume, the first anthology of classical Telugu poetry in English, gives an overview of one of the world's most creative poetic traditions. Velcheru Narayana Rao and David Shulman have brought together mythological, religious, and secular texts by twenty major poets who wrote between the eleventh and nineteenth centuries. The beautifully translated selections are often dramatic and unexpected in tone and effect, and sometimes highly personal. The authors have provided an informative, engaging introduction, fleshing out the history of Telugu literature, situating its poets in relation to significant literary themes and historical developments, and discussing the relationship between Telugu and the classical literature and poetry of Sanskrit.

This groundbreaking anthology opens a window on a thousand years of classical poetry in Telugu, the mellifluous language of Andhra Pradesh in southern India. The classical tradition in Telugu is one of the richest yet least explored of all South Asian literatures. This authoritative volume, the first anthology of classical Telugu poetry in English, gives an overview of one of the world's most creative poetic traditions. Velcheru Narayana Rao and David Shulman have brought together mythological, religious, and secular texts by twenty major poets who wrote between the eleventh and nineteenth centuries. The beautifully translated selections are often dramatic and unexpected in tone and effect, and sometimes highly personal. The authors have provided an informative, engaging introduction, fleshing out the history of Telugu literature, situating its poets in relation to significant literary themes and historical developments, and discussing the relationship between Telugu and the classical literature and poetry of Sanskrit.

Acknowledgments
Note on Pronunciation
Introduction

1. Nannaya
2. Nannecoda
3. Palkuriki Somanatha
4. Tikkana
5. Mancana
6. Errapragada
7. Nacana Somanatha
8. Srinatha
9. Bammera Potana
10. Annamayya
11. Allasani Peddana
12. Krsnadevaraya
13. Nandi Timmanna
14. Dhurjati
15. Tenali Ramakrsna
16. Nutana-kavi Suranna
17. Pingali Suranna
18. Appakavi
19. Ksetrayya
20. Satakas
21. Catu Verses
22. Sahaji
23. Samukhamu Venkatakrsnappa Nayaka
24. Muddupalani
25. Tyagaraja

Bibliography
Index