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8 historical and social. Three of these novels have already been translated into English— viz., "Durgesanandini," by Charu Chandra Mookerjee (Calcutta, 1880), "Bish-brikhya" or, "Poison Tree," by Mrs. M. S. Knight, the translator of the present work (London, 1884), and "Kopal-kundala," by H. A. D. Phillips (London, 1885). This last has also been translated into German by C. Klemm (Leipzig, 1886).

As a proof of the high estimation in which his works are held by natives of India also, it may be noticed that two of his novels have already been translated into Hindustani, and one into Hindi.

Towards the close of his life Bankim Chandra appeared as an advocate of a reformed system of Hindu religion, and a teacher of the sublime philosophy of the Bhagavadgîtâ. His "Krishna-charitra," or Life of Krishna, which was first published in 1886, is by many considered to be his finest work. In it he represents the Hindu deity as the model of a perfect nature, and points out the gradual introduction into the great epic poem of the Mahâbhârata of the many popular superstitions, and degrading