Mahabharata by William Buck
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Book Reviews of Mahabharata
Book Review: Confused narrative
Summary: 1 Stars
I have today finished reading William Buck's retelling of the Mahabharata and am disappointed. English-language readers might be better advised to read Rajagopalachari version to get an overview of the epic.I should like to mention that I have Indian antecedents and have read various abridged translations of the Mahabharata in both English and Gujarati.
This rendition is riddled with careless editing of the narrative. For example, the entire episode of the Aswamedha is omitted from the narrative yet Buck refers to Yudhisthira as "King of Kings".
Besides removing important events and characters Buck displays a lack of understanding of dharma. An example will suffice: Buck has Arjuna marry Uttara, the daughter of Virata at the end of the 13-year exile -- since Arjun had been her teacher this act would be adharma. (Arjun's son Abhimanyu marries Uttara in Vyasa's Mahabharata.)
Overall I cannot recommend this version.
Book Review: There are better versions
Summary: 1 Stars
I am not any kind of sanskrit scholar but I have enjoyed reading mythological literature for about ten years and I found Buck's Mahabharata to be a bore. I found it incomprehensible and disjointed. It was as if the author was trying really hard to create such an air of enchantment that he gave us something that sounded downright obscure and pretentious. At first I thought that maybe the original is this way, but then I came across R.K.Narayan's crystal clear version. After that I read Rajagopalachari's, which was beautiful. I recommend these versions much more.Book Review: Not the best version of Mahabharata to read
Summary: 1 Stars
I would strongly recommend you to get "The Mahabharata" retold by C.Rajagopalachari. This is the best version of the Mahabhatata you can ever read!!! Please do not buy the version by William buck...