books2thesky: (Default)
Abby R. ([personal profile] books2thesky) wrote in [community profile] dreams_library2011-08-12 11:06 pm

Books about Karna (from the Mahabharata) in English

Does anyone know of any books in English that are about Karna? Fiction, nonfiction, or anything! Even anthologies (of nonfiction or fiction pieces) that contain a piece about Karna are welcome!

I would be particularly interested in reading stuff that takes a look at Karna's story in terms of real-life issues related to the caste system/reform of the caste system*, but anything at all would be great, really. :)

*and I hope I phrased that okay, since I know basically nothing about the subject!

ETA: Books about Bhishma are also good! I don't know much about him, but what I do know is intriguing.

[personal profile] boundbooks 2011-08-12 03:19 pm (UTC)(link)
It so happens that I do!

I highly recommend The Palace of Illusions, by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Here's a review by [personal profile] rachelmanija. The book is a re-telling of the Mahabharata from Draupadi's perspective, and is oh so good. It offers a very different interpretation of Karna and Draupadi's relationship.