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Review: Until the Lions, by Karthika Naïr

Jeet Thayil, September 10, 2015

The full transcript of the interview can be found
here.

In this retelling of the Mahabaratha from the point of view of its hitherto minor female characters, Karthika Nair uncovers a seminal feminist text. Until the Lions makes dazzling use of concrete verse and surreptitious rhyme to tell a story you think you know. By poem's end you understand, with gratitude, that you know nothing and the old world has been made new. This is nervy and accomplished poetry. Listen.