The Book of Desire is Meena Kandasamys luminous translation of the Kamattu-p-pal, a 2000-year-old song of love and pleasure and the third part of the Thirukkural -- one of the most important texts in Tamil literature. Its verses rejoice in the pleasures of sex, beauty and all aspects of love. Although hundreds of male translations of the text have been published, it has also only ever been translated by a woman once before. It is also, historically, the part that has been most heavily censored. The Book of Desire is Meenas own feminist reclamation of this great work.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.