Rabindranath Tagore, His Life and Work

What it is

This is a book titled Rabindranath Tagore, His Life and Work, written by Edward Thompson and published in 1921 as part of the Heritage of India series. It is a scanned copy held by the Internet Archive, originally from Cornell University Library.

Why it matters

Written while Tagore was still alive and internationally famous, this biography shows how a British scholar interpreted the poet's life and work for an English-reading audience in the early twentieth century.

Why it matters

The book reflects both Tagore's growing global reputation and the perspective of someone writing from outside India, which can shape what is included or left out.

Look closer

• Why might a British scholar have chosen to write about an Indian poet in this period?
• What might be missing from an account written by someone outside Tagore's own culture?
• How does the book's place in a series called 'Heritage of India' suggest its purpose?