The Sound of the Kiss, or the Story That Must Never Be Told

Kalapurnodayamu is the master work by Telegu writer Pingali, who lived in what is now Andhra Pradesh about the beginning of the 17th century. It is considered the first Indian novel, but is also a long poem cast in the accepted modes of courtly poetry. The translation is by Velcheru Narayana Rao and David Shulman, who also provide notes, a guide to pronunciation and characters, and an index of names and technical terms. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)