Mahakavi K. V. Simon

Makes up, at one stroke, for the incomprehensible neglect of Mahakavi Simon's work for over nearly a century. Mathai's is a work of impressive erudition, as well as of immense importance for the history of world literature. * Prabhu Guptara, Professor Emeritus, William Carey University, India * Mathai’s book offers a profound study in the life and work of K. V. Simon, an extraordinary poet hitherto little known outside Kerala, though still of Miltonic profile in the realms of faith and letters. This is a 'go to' book for any explorer, scholar, or lay person, entering the colorful Malabar Coast of India, its ancient Christianity, the Malayalam language, and world literature. * Heike Oberlin, Professor of Indology, University of Tübingen, Germany * Translations build bridges. Through this careful examination of the life and work of K.V. Simon, Varghese Mathai has championed the task of showcasing an Indian poet of Miltonic caliber to an audience of nations. Mathai’s elegant verse translations of Simon’s magnum opus, Vedaviharam and the numerous selections from Sangeetha Ratnavali represent a weighty service to world literature. * Donald R. Davis Jr., Professor of Asian Studies, University of Texas at Austin, USA * Rich in history, thorough in translation of the vast hymnody, and insightful in the analysis of the person and his times, Mathai’s work is invaluable in understanding Christianity in Kerala in the 20th century through the life of K. V. Simon. * Stanley John Valayil, Assistant Professor of Intercultural Studies, Alliance University, New York * This is trailblazing work, unveiling Mahakavi Simon to the delight of his audience worldwide. Varghese Mathai transmits the substance and spirit of Simon’s writings through the first ever English biography of the poet and the extensive English translation of his elite verse. * James Kurichi, Lecturer in Malayalam, University of Pennsylvania, USA *