3 Review(s)

This book undertakes a comparison of two novels, viz. Kosla (1963) by Marathi writer Bhalchandra Nemade and its American counterpart The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J. D. Salinger in terms of theme, structure and style. It attempts to delineate how writers placed in apparently diverse geographical and cultural contexts find themselves grappling with the same crisis—alienation.Addressing a contentious issue as to whether the sense of alienation was artificially transplanted into the Indian mindset—which presumably harbours contentment and optimism—by some writers, it discerns certain indigenous factors that seem to have caused a wave of disillusionment and estrangement in the post-independence generation of Indians.While this book meticulously traces the influence of The Catcher in the Rye on Kosla, it unreservedly recognizes the contribution of the latter in changing the path of Marathi fiction and taste of Marathi literary psyche.Given the multilingual and multicultural ethos of our country, the present book underscores the need to formulate a native comparative perspective in which literary-cultural studies can be undertaken both at intranational and international levels.