A life in Urdu personal encounters and selected essays on Urdu literature Russell, Ralph 1918-2008 creator author. Molteno, Marion editor. text bibliography Electronic books. Criticism, interpretation, etc. ii 2023 monographic eng remote 1 online resource This book brings together writing by Ralph Russell, the eminent 20th century scholar of Urdu, which illuminates his life-long engagement with Urdu speakers and their literature. He learnt Urdu as a young man sent to India for war service in 1941, went on to study its literature in the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, where he taught for 30 years, spent extended periods in South Asia working alongside Urdu-speaking scholars, and became a widely acknowledged authority on Ghalib. Written in his lively, accessible style, it provides a unique introduction for those new to Urdu literature, and unusual insights for those familiar with it. Part 1 - autobiographical. It describes how he first came in contact with Urdu speakers during World War 2, his studies at SOAS, and later encounters which reflect his interest in everyone he met. Part 2 - essays on key figures in Urdu literature. Poets in the 18th and 19th Centuries, early novelists and short story writers, popular literature, memoirs by remarkable women, all set against social and political contexts; plus an essay describing his approach to translating Ghalibs ghazals. Part 3 - essays on language and literary history. The Progressive Writer's Movement; Aziz Ahmad; the relationship between Hindi and Urdu; and his well-known article 'How Not to Write the History of Urdu Literature'. The Foreword by Marion Molteno, his student and literary executor, introduces his life and work. The Afterword brings together appreciations by some of the hundreds of people who were influenced by him. The Editor's Note explains the criteria of selection and gives notes on sources. Ralph Russell ; edited by Marion Molteno. Includes bibliographical references and index. Russell, Ralph 1918-2008 Russell, Ralph 1918-2008 Urdu literature 20th century History and criticism Urdu literature History and criticism Urdu language History Littérature ourdoue Histoire et critique Ourdou (Langue) Histoire Urdu literature Literature: history & criticism Literature 1900-1999 fast PK2154.5.R87 A25 2023 891.43987109 Life in Urdu Russell, Ralph, 1918-2008, (OCoLC)1347734022 9789354974397 9354974392 9789391050948 9391050948 http://proxy.library.tamu.edu/login?url=https://academic.oup.com/book/46105 UIU 230606 20260318165521.9 in00005698248 eng