Rama: A Legend - Hardcover

Highwater, Jamake; Valmiki

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0805030522 ISBN 13: 9780805030525

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co, 1994

Synopsis

In a story based on the great Indian and Southeast Asian epic, the Ramayana, Prince Rama falls in love with Sita, a beautiful nature goddess, but when a jealous queen forces him from his throne, Rama, Sita, and his brother Laksmana must battle the evil King Ravana.

About this title

From School Library Journal:

Grade 7 Up-The Sanskrit epic Ramayana is one of the masterpieces of world literature. Rama is not a retelling, but is closely based on its source. At the heart of both are love (the exemplary devotion of Prince Rama and the quasi-divine Sita) and war (recurrent violent battles between good and evil). Demons plot against the heroic Rama and his loyal brother, Laksmana, exiling them from their kingdom and kidnapping Sita. Aided by the monkey folk and their noble king, Rama regains both wife and kingdom, but at a terrible price. (Highwater omits a later tragic testing of Rama and Sita's love, as well as other plot complications.) Sita is a powerful, if strange, figure, and the story is free of the original's misogynism (although women are still valued most when young and beautiful). Despite the appeal of romance and conflict, Rama challenges readers with its unfamiliar characters, difficult vocabulary, and a style heavily given to sentence fragments. Its strongest points may be the vivid descriptions of scenery and of pageantry complete with gorgeous ritual and ceremony, splendid temples, and exotic jungle.
Patricia (Dooley) Lothrop Green, St. George's School, Newport, RI
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist:

Gr. 5-9. When he is wrongfully banished from his father's kingdom and then his beloved earth goddess wife, Sita, is kidnapped, valiant Prince Rama heroically charges back to avenge the evil that has befallen his world. Armed with his enchanted Tiger Bow and accompanied by his faithful younger brother, Laksmana, Rama sets forth to challenge the monstrously evil ruler Ravana. Highwater bases this beautifully descriptive, nonstop-action novel on the Hindu epic Ramayana, artfully weaving in strong themes on the environment and peace. Replete with demons, a jealous queen, enchanted creatures, hideous monsters, magical powers, and extraordinary battles, this classic good-against-evil adventure story will delight fantasy fans. In addition, Rama will blend well with mythology and Asian curriculum units. Anne O'Malley

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt & Co
• Publication date: 1994
• ISBN 10: 0805030522
• ISBN 13: 9780805030525
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 226
• Illustrator: Glancey Kelli