Bishwer Shreshtha Upanyas O Choto Galpa by Charles Dickens Bengali PDF
Title— Bishwer Shreshtha Upanyas O Choto Galpa (The World’s Greatest Novels and Short Stories)
Author—Charles Dickens (Charles John Huffam Dickens),
Translators— Shishir Sengupta, Jayanta Kumar Bhaduri, Kumaresh Ghosh, Sukumar Gupta, Nirendranath Chakraborty, Siddhartha Ghosh, Rama Bhattacharya, and Anita Gupta,
Translated into Bengali,
Format—PDF, Pages—528,
The World’s Greatest Novels and Short Stories: Featuring Charles Dickens
About the Anthology:
Titled “The World’s Greatest Novels and Short Stories,” this remarkable anthology presents translated works from some of the most revered authors in world literature. The first volume is dedicated to the legendary English writer, Charles Dickens.
The collection is not merely a translation exercise, but an ambitious literary project aimed at making world literature accessible to Bengali readers. The translators—comprising both seasoned veterans and brilliant younger contributors—acknowledge that while language often loses some of its original charm in translation, much of the essence can still be retained when the work is approached with care, competence, and respect for both the original and the target language.
The editors and translators express pride in undertaking such a vast initiative. They believe Bengali literature isn’t impoverished in terms of translation, but that a curated, purposeful, and structured approach was lacking. This anthology is the first of its kind to attempt such a comprehensive presentation of world literature to Bengali readers.
Even with its considerable length—528 tightly printed pages—this first volume is only a glimpse into the vast treasure trove of global storytelling. The editors are candid in stating that a complete compendium is impossible within a limited number of volumes. However, their focus has been on quality and diversity, rather than quantity.
Selection Philosophy:
The selection of works in this anthology follows a carefully crafted philosophy:
- Inclusion of major writers across eras, ensuring that no significant figure is left out.
- Geographical representation, covering countries with rich literary traditions.
- Choosing each author’s most significant work, representing the core of their literary legacy.
- Limiting to one major work per author, even if they had multiple masterpieces.
- Diversity of themes and styles, offering a panoramic view of human experiences.
Certain works—due to copyright restrictions or preexisting, widely available translations—had to be excluded. Nevertheless, the team is confident that the chosen selection represents the best and the broadest array of great novels and short stories.
Translation Approach
The translators emphasize that this is not a project of abridged or interpretive retelling. Their aim is full-text translation—to retain the richness, emotional depth, and aesthetic beauty of the original. However, literal word-for-word translation is avoided, as every language has its own rhythm and expressive uniqueness.
To bridge cultural and linguistic gaps, translators occasionally added, removed, or adapted idioms, words, and phrases. These choices were made deliberately, in service of conveying the original flavor and emotional resonance. The objective has always been to bring world literature to Bengali readers in a way that remains authentic to the source, while respecting the target language’s natural flow.
While most translations are from English, a few have been translated from French, German, Spanish, and Russian. In some cases, even translations from English were cross-verified with the original source language. Given the realities of Indian literary translation today, the editors consider this method both practical and effective.
Acknowledgements
The translators extend their gratitude to Dipankar Majumdar, Anil Das, and Dilip Ghosh, whose encouragement and tireless support made the publication of this first volume possible.
Author in Focus: Charles Dickens
A Life Shaped by Struggle
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 near Portsmouth, England. His early life was marked by economic hardship, as his father—a clerk by profession—was imprisoned for debt. According to the custom of the time, the entire family, including his mother and siblings, moved into the debtors’ prison with him. Young Charles, however, was left to fend for himself.
These formative experiences exposed Dickens to the harsh realities of Victorian urban life, themes that would become central to his later work. After briefly working in a law office and learning shorthand, he found employment as a journalist in London. His first published story appeared when he was just 21. Soon, with the success of The Pickwick Papers, his literary career soared.
Over the decades, Dickens wrote dozens of novels, essays, plays, travelogues, and short stories, cementing his place as one of the greatest storytellers in English literature.
Dickens’s Literary Legacy
Dickens’s works are known for their vivid characters, social critique, and deep humanism. Some of his most celebrated novels include:
- Sketches by Boz (1836)
- The Pickwick Papers (1837)
- Oliver Twist (1838)
- Nicholas Nickleby (1839)
- The Old Curiosity Shop (1841)
- David Copperfield (1850)
- Hard Times (1853)
- A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
His personal life was marked by emotional turbulence. After 22 years of marriage, Dickens went through a painful divorce that left a lasting impact on him. His final years were consumed by relentless writing and public readings, often at the expense of his health. He died in 1870 at the age of just 58.
A Tale of Two Cities: Historical Context and Timeless Relevance
One of Dickens’s most iconic novels, A Tale of Two Cities, is set against the backdrop of the French Revolution. The late 18th century was a period of massive upheaval in France, as centuries of monarchical oppression and aristocratic excess gave way to violent revolution. The fall of the Bastille, the execution of King Louis XVI, and the rise of the French Republic are all vividly woven into the novel’s narrative.
The novel explores how revolution can both liberate and destroy, presenting characters from all walks of life—rich and poor, noble and villainous, hopeful and despairing. Through their joys, sorrows, anger, and vengeance, Dickens delves into the deep emotional and moral complexities of a society in flux.
It is this blend of personal drama with historical epic, of individual redemption and collective transformation, that makes A Tale of Two Cities a timeless masterpiece.
Final Thoughts
This anthology, with Charles Dickens as its focal point, is a testament to the power of translation and the enduring relevance of global literature. It invites Bengali readers to immerse themselves in stories that have shaped human understanding across cultures and centuries.
By carefully balancing fidelity to the original with the literary aesthetics of the target language, the translators have opened a door to the world—a door through which literature, empathy, and wisdom can freely pass.
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Bishwer Shreshtha Upanyas O Choto Galpa: Charles Dickens (The World’s Greatest Novels and Short Stories)
The World’s Greatest Novels and Short Stories: Charles Dickens
Pages: 528 | Format: PDF
Bishwer Shreshtha Upanyas O Choto Galpa (The World’s Greatest Novels and Short Stories: Charles Dickens)
