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Synopsis Rabindranath demands to be quoted—for his impressive command over language, his inimitable expressions and, especially, for the keenness of his thought. Tagore’s poetry is legion, but his prose writings reflect the way he perceived the world and his involvement in the contemporary debates of his time. Tagore’s sharp, analytical, polyglot mind contested mainstream world views even as he maintained a unique position on the fundamental shifts that were occurring in society and politics in the first half of the twentieth century. The Nectar of Life, a collection of pithy quotations from Tagore’s prose writings, available in English for the first time, is distilled from his essays, speeches and letters. These musings on a wide array of subjects ranging from literature, nationalism and religion to beauty, happiness and love will delight readers, particularly those who are new to Tagore.