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Book Reviews
(1) by Professor George Hart ...
Dr. V. S. Rajam's A Reference Grammar of Classical Tamil Poetry : 150
B.C.-pre-fifth/sixth Century A.D is indispensable for all students of Tamil
literature. It is an exhaustive work that gives a clear explanation for
every form that occurs in Tamil before the sixth century. Its carefully
thought-out indices and contents make it extremely easy to locate each form.
Each citation is accompanied by several examples so that the reader
can
see how a form is used in various contexts. In addition to the reference
section grammar, the work includes a long chapter on meter in Sangam
literature that is by far the best -- and most detailed -- thing written on
the subject in English. The book is completed with a wonderful study of
syntax in the old poems: the author takes three poems and describes in great
and illuminating detail exactly how each one works. This is a book that no
lover of Tamil should be without. It is not only enjoyable and illuminating;
it is a companion to reading the literature
that will be used and
appreciated again and again.
(2) by Andrew Looker, M.D ...
As a Child
Psychiatrist studying Tamil rather late in the game, I found Dr. V.S.
Rajam's "Reference Grammar of Classical Tamil Poetry" an invaluable
resource. I used it originally as an introduction to the field before
embarking on reading Sangam poetry- and then as a reference book while
translating. In both capacities the book is superb.
The many morphological forms present in Old Tamil are thoroughly and
encyclopedically elaborated in the text. There are many examples of all
forms presented as quotations from original sources.
In addition to
all this there is an extensive chapter on the theory of classical Tamil
poetry . This is invaluable, both as an introduction to Tamil poetics and as
a reference tool. Other chapters on specific grammatical issues are
included-a chapter on the Verb "A" is especially thought-provoking .
A final chapter, examining in detail the structure of three Old Tamil poems,
superbly pulls together in a practical way, all the previous material of the
book. The poems themselves are well worth reading and this chapter would be
useful in a general course on the literature of South Asia.
As a
final note: the "feel" of the book, its format, the Tamil fonts, the quality
of the paper, its "heft" makes it a pleasure to own.
