From verse to willow

NEW RELEASES

SUBHASHITAVALI: An Anthology of Comic, Erotic and Other Verse
Selected and translated by AND Haksar
Penguin Books India
Rs 200; 208 pages

The subha-shita verse is a popular feature of Sanskrit literature. Composed in isolation or as part of a larger work, it is essentially a miniature poem which encapsulates a complete thought, mood or image in a single stanza. These verse epigrams have a wide range of themes.

This selection from the Subha-shita-vali, a celebrated verse anthology compiled by Vallabhadeva in c. fifteenth-century Kashmir, offers a rich variety of erotic poetry and a wealth of lyrical and gnomic verse. One section is given to earthy humour and cynical satire seldom available in English renditions.

Also included are invocations and allegories, panegyrics and pen-pictures, sage observations and stark musings. The sweep of these verses is matched by the eclectic array of contributors - from illustrious poets like Vyasa and Valmiki, Kalidasa and Bana to others now mostly forgotten.

These verses of jollity and wit, ribaldry and bawdiness, snide sarcasm and wry comment showcase the fact that Sanskrit literature, generally perceived as staid and serious, can also be flippant and fun.

The Penguin World Cup Cricket Companion 2007
by Qaiser Mohammad Ali
Penguin
Rs 199; 352 pages

Yes, well, so you knew it already but there's a cricket world cup around the corner, and this book bills itself "the ultimate guide to cricket's most prestigious tournament".

Besides the history of World Cup cricket (with scorecards and match summaries) and profiles of all 16 teams playing in the 2007 tournament, it has exclusive interviews with such personalities as Greg Chappell, Bob Woolmer, Shaun Pollock and Chris Dehring, CEO of the 2007 World Cup. It even includes blank scorecards for you to fill after every match.

Also included:

An up-to-date account of all the one-day international cricket played since the 2003 World Cup right up to the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy

Player profiles including career statistics of the World Cup's likely stars

A behind-the-scenes look at how the West Indies prepared to host the World Cup

Records and statistics relating to World Cup and one-day cricket

The complete World Cup 2007 itinerary, venue profiles and playing conditions

Information overdose? Sure, but aren't we all prepared for that to happen in the next couple of months?