What do you think?
Rate this book
Land Of Cards: Stories, Poems And Plays For Children
BRAND NEW, Exactly same ISBN as listed, Please double check ISBN carefully before ordering.
232 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2010
About the author
Rabindranath Tagore
2,485 books3,949 followersAwarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 "because of his profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse, by which, with consummate skill, he has made his poetic thought, expressed in his own English words, a part of the literature of the West."
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.
The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্র রচনাবলী) in the original Bengali are now available at these third-party websites:
http://www.tagoreweb.in/
http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr....
Tagore modernised Bengali art by spurning rigid classical forms and resisting linguistic strictures. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. Gitanjali (Song Offerings), Gora (Fair-Faced), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World) are his best-known works, and his verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India's Jana Gana Mana and Bangladesh's Amar Shonar Bangla.
The complete works of Rabindranath Tagore (রবীন্দ্র রচনাবলী) in the original Bengali are now available at these third-party websites:
http://www.tagoreweb.in/
http://www.rabindra-rachanabali.nltr....
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 9, 2023
"The Kingdom of Cards" stands as a searing, humanist rebuke against caste systems, most notably the Hindu caste system, as well as a condemnation of fascism, a critique woven just a year following Hitler's rise in 1932.
Venturing for adventure, a valiant prince stumbles upon an enigmatic realm, inhabited by animated cards bound by rigid rules and stratification, mirroring the oppressive Hindu caste structure. The prince's discerning gaze unravels these brittle laws, initiating an evolution that sees the cards shedding their lifeless facades. Dressed as humans, they begin to dance, sing, and even kindle romance, while their world undergoes a sweeping transformation.
Notably, it is the women who catalyze this metamorphosis, unearthing the innate desires that defy the constraints of tradition. Tagore, a harbinger of humanism, perceptively addresses women's subjugation and inequality, illuminating their pivotal role in reshaping the kingdom.
In this allegorical tapestry, Tagore delivers a resounding commentary on societal hierarchies, oppression, and the resilience of human spirit against systemic tyranny. The metamorphosis of the cards into their authentic selves underscores the power of emancipation, as the innate human spirit soars beyond the boundaries of orchestrated societal norms.
The following excerpt from the story clearly criticizes the Hindu Caste system.
…
“Up till now there had been nothing to disturb that island stillness. No new thing had ever happened. No discussion had ever been held.
“And then, of a sudden, the Three Companions appeared, thrown up by the sea,—and the Great Debate began. There were three main points of dispute.
“First, to what caste should these unclassed strangers belong? Should they rank with the Court Cards? Or were they merely lower-caste people, to be ranked with the Nines and Tens? No precedent could be quoted to decide this weighty question.
“Secondly, what was their clan? Had they the fairer hue and bright complexion of the Hearts, or was theirs the darker complexion of the Clubs? Over this question there were interminable disputes. The whole marriage system of the island, with its intricate regulations, would depend on its nice adjustment.
“Thirdly, what food should they take? With whom should they live and sleep? And should their heads be placed south-west, north-west, or only north-east? In all the Kingdom of Cards a series of problems so vital and critical had never been debated before."
March 6, 2022
The Kingdom of Cards by Rabindranath Tagore
Bengali poet (1861-1941).
This tale is a sociological and political fable that addresses caste system and type-casting, using the pack of cards are the rigid framework of categorising people. Simple, clever and effective.
“The Three Companions obeyed no rules nor regulations. … They remained unimpressed altogether by the eternal gravity of those eternal regulations.” ***
..
Bengali poet (1861-1941).
This tale is a sociological and political fable that addresses caste system and type-casting, using the pack of cards are the rigid framework of categorising people. Simple, clever and effective.
“The Three Companions obeyed no rules nor regulations. … They remained unimpressed altogether by the eternal gravity of those eternal regulations.” ***
..
May 26, 2018
A nice book about famous poem, short stories and plays alike by Rabindranath Tagore, each their own type. Humorous and interesting, it is overall a great read.
June 5, 2021
Such a skillfully woven plot which is pertinent even today. Enjoyed reading.
September 18, 2021
Beautiful short story, would recommend everyone to read it atleast one time.
June 8, 2012
Its good and humourous
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews