The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu
The first substantive translation of the Gujarati short story pioneer, Dhumketu (1892–1965)
The first book-length Gujarati-to-English translation published in the US.
Pronunciation guide: “shehnai” = “shay-huh-naa-yi”; “Dhumketu” = “dhoom-kay-tu”; “Gujarati” = “Goo-juh-raa-ti”
[This is the 2022 US edition. For the 2020 Indian edition, click here.]
“The translator is deeply engaged with the context of each story and follows each dip and tremor in the narrative flow with practiced ease and linguistic flair.”
N Kalyan Raman, award-winning translator in Indian Literature (a Sahitya Akademi publication)
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- “Dhumketu is a wonderfully gripping storyteller . . . Bhatt has certainly done him justice in this excellent selection.” ~Jennifer Croft, winner of the Booker International Prize (2018)
- “The translator . . . follows each dip and tremor in the narrative flow with practised ease and linguistic flair . . .” ~N. Kalyan Raman, winner of the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize (2022)
- “Jenny Bhatt transposes the lushness of life as described by [Dhumketu] . . . in new, important, florid, and disciplined renderings.” ~Rajiv Mohabir, translator of I Even Regret Night: Holi Songs of Demerara by Lalbihari Sharma.
- “A selection of treasures from Dhumketu’s profound stories . . . a translation that itself sparks and flames.” ~Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma, translator of The Kural by Tiruvalluvar.
- “. . . a love letter to the power of art and the human spirit . . . These stories invite readers to rediscover the wonder in the quotidian.” ~KIRKUS REVIEWS
- “Complex characters, vibrant imagery, and descriptions of rural Gujarat State bolster each of the stories. Readers are in for a treat.” ~PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
- “Jenny Bhatt’s skillful translation takes advantage of the unique place that English occupies on the subcontinent. […] To read Dhumketu is to be reminded of the ways in which the short story can be stretched and shaped organically, while always remaining true to its exquisite form.” ~WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS (Rishi Reddi)
- “. . . a kaleidoscope, abundant in variegating depictions of both landscapes and the human interiors populating them.” ~ASYMPTOTE JOURNAL (Andrea Blatz)
- “. . . a magical Guajarati storyteller has arrived on North American shores to share a broad selection of his well-loved tales with a wider contemporary audience, a journey made possible by an attentive and gifted translator.” ~roughghosts (Joseph Schreiber)
- “. . . Dhumketu shows considerable range. He is clearly a talented story-writer . . . a very welcome — and long overdue — introduction to a significant writer, from a language and tradition from which only a smattering has previously been accessible to English-speaking readers. This is a generous, wide-ranging selection, offering a very good variety — an excellent sampler, even if it only offers one-twentieth (!) of the author’s story-output alone.” ~THE COMPLETE REVIEW (Michael Orthofer)
- “. . . Dhumketu’s short stories have all the elements of poetry built on the foundation of memorable imagery. And Jenny Bhatt’s translation of Dhumketu’s Gujarati makes the imagery vivid for Anglophone readers.” ~KHABAR MAGAZINE (Dr. Rajesh C. Oza)
- “. . . Dhumketu’s insights show that, while times change, human nature does not. It is these little pearls of wisdom that make Dhumketu’s stories timeless and relevant today.” ~ASIAN REVIEW OF BOOKS (Jane Wallace)
- “While Dhumketu wrote his stories in the faraway Gujarat of the early 20th century, he remains relevant to the modern reader with an open heart and an appreciation for poetic writing . . .” ~INDIA CURRENTS (Rajesh C. Oza)
- Harshaneeyam Podcast | Translating Dhumketu – Writer, Translator Jenny Bhatt (Gujarati). Podcast interview. November 2023.
- India Currents | “A Privilege And An Honor” To Translate Gujarati Writer Dhumketu: Exclusive Interview With Jenny Bhatt. Interview by Rajesh C. Oza. December 2022.
- Dallas Morning News | This Dallas author is shining a light on Desi authors from around the globe. Interview by Joyce Sáenz Harris. November 2022.
- Speaking Tongues Podcast | Speaking Gujarati. Interview by Elle Charisse. September 2022.
- Indiaspora | Q&A for The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu (tr. Jenny Bhatt.) September 2022.
- Five Books | The Best South Asian Novels in Translation recommended by Jenny Bhatt. Interviewed by Cal Flyn. August 2022.
- Oldster Magazine | This is (Almost) 50: Jenny Bhatt Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire. Interview by Sari Botton. July 2022.
- Los Angeles Review of Books | ‘Writing Is About Connection”: A Conversation with Jenny Bhatt. Interview by Suhasini Patni. July 2022.
- CLMP | A Reading List for National Translation Month 2023. August 2023.
- Asian Review of Books | 2022: The Year in Translation from South and Southeast Asia. January 2023.
- CLMP | Fiction of 2022. December 2022.
- World Literature Today | World Literature Today’s 75 Notable Translations of 2022. December 2022.
- World Literature Today | Making the Old New. November 2022.
- India Currents | SALA 2022 was a confluence of art and literature featuring a dazzling array of writers, poets, and artists from the subcontinent. November 2022.
- Seema Magazine | Five Translators to Read. September 2022.
- D Magazine | Fill Your Summer With Books by North Texas Authors. August 2022.
- CLMP | Books Launching in July 2022.
- Lone Star Literary Life | July 2022 Texas Book Preview
- BombayReads | The Shehnai Virtuoso & Other Stories by Dhumketu. July 2022.
- Himalayan Writing Retreat Blog | 31 Top Book Translators in Indian Languages. July 2022.
- Translators Aloud | ‘The Shehnai Virtuoso’, an audio excerpt from The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu, translated by Jenny Bhatt. November 2022.
- Asian Review of Books | “Light and Shade”, a short story from “The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories” by Dhumketu, translated by Jenny Bhatt. October 2022.
- Literary Hub | Breaking Down the Translation Pyramid: On Translating Dhumketu’s Pioneering Short Stories from Gujarati. (excerpt from the book’s introduction.) August 2022.
- Asymptote Journal | ‘Nameless’ by Dhumketu. Translated from Gujarati to English. July 2021. [NOTE: This story was accidentally left out of the book due to my oversight.]
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- “. . . a love letter to the power of art and the human spirit . . . These stories invite readers to rediscover the wonder in the quotidian.” ~KIRKUS REVIEWS
- “Complex characters, vibrant imagery, and descriptions of rural Gujarat State bolster each of the stories. Readers are in for a treat.” ~PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
- “Jenny Bhatt’s skillful translation takes advantage of the unique place that English occupies on the subcontinent. […] To read Dhumketu is to be reminded of the ways in which the short story can be stretched and shaped organically, while always remaining true to its exquisite form.” ~WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS (Rishi Reddi)
- “. . . a kaleidoscope, abundant in variegating depictions of both landscapes and the human interiors populating them.” ~ASYMPTOTE JOURNAL (Andrea Blatz)
- “. . . a magical Guajarati storyteller has arrived on North American shores to share a broad selection of his well-loved tales with a wider contemporary audience, a journey made possible by an attentive and gifted translator.” ~roughghosts (Joseph Schreiber)
- “. . . Dhumketu shows considerable range. He is clearly a talented story-writer . . . a very welcome — and long overdue — introduction to a significant writer, from a language and tradition from which only a smattering has previously been accessible to English-speaking readers. This is a generous, wide-ranging selection, offering a very good variety — an excellent sampler, even if it only offers one-twentieth (!) of the author’s story-output alone.” ~THE COMPLETE REVIEW (Michael Orthofer)
- “. . . Dhumketu’s short stories have all the elements of poetry built on the foundation of memorable imagery. And Jenny Bhatt’s translation of Dhumketu’s Gujarati makes the imagery vivid for Anglophone readers.” ~KHABAR MAGAZINE (Dr. Rajesh C. Oza)
- “. . . Dhumketu’s insights show that, while times change, human nature does not. It is these little pearls of wisdom that make Dhumketu’s stories timeless and relevant today.” ~ASIAN REVIEW OF BOOKS (Jane Wallace)
- “While Dhumketu wrote his stories in the faraway Gujarat of the early 20th century, he remains relevant to the modern reader with an open heart and an appreciation for poetic writing . . .” ~INDIA CURRENTS (Rajesh C. Oza)
- Harshaneeyam Podcast | Translating Dhumketu – Writer, Translator Jenny Bhatt (Gujarati). Podcast interview. November 2023.
- India Currents | “A Privilege And An Honor” To Translate Gujarati Writer Dhumketu: Exclusive Interview With Jenny Bhatt. Interview by Rajesh C. Oza. December 2022.
- Dallas Morning News | This Dallas author is shining a light on Desi authors from around the globe. Interview by Joyce Sáenz Harris. November 2022.
- Speaking Tongues Podcast | Speaking Gujarati. Interview by Elle Charisse. September 2022.
- Indiaspora | Q&A for The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu (tr. Jenny Bhatt.) September 2022.
- Five Books | The Best South Asian Novels in Translation recommended by Jenny Bhatt. Interviewed by Cal Flyn. August 2022.
- Oldster Magazine | This is (Almost) 50: Jenny Bhatt Responds to The Oldster Magazine Questionnaire. Interview by Sari Botton. July 2022.
- Los Angeles Review of Books | ‘Writing Is About Connection”: A Conversation with Jenny Bhatt. Interview by Suhasini Patni. July 2022.
- Translators Aloud | ‘The Shehnai Virtuoso’, an audio excerpt from The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories by Dhumketu, translated by Jenny Bhatt. November 2022.
- Asian Review of Books | “Light and Shade”, a short story from “The Shehnai Virtuoso and Other Stories” by Dhumketu, translated by Jenny Bhatt. October 2022.
- Literary Hub | Breaking Down the Translation Pyramid: On Translating Dhumketu’s Pioneering Short Stories from Gujarati. (excerpt from the book’s introduction.) August 2022.
- Asymptote Journal | ‘Nameless’ by Dhumketu. Translated from Gujarati to English. July 2021. [NOTE: This story was accidentally left out of the book due to my oversight.]
- CLMP | A Reading List for National Translation Month 2023. August 2023.
- Asian Review of Books | 2022: The Year in Translation from South and Southeast Asia. January 2023.
- CLMP | Fiction of 2022. December 2022.
- World Literature Today | World Literature Today’s 75 Notable Translations of 2022. December 2022.
- World Literature Today | Making the Old New. November 2022.
- India Currents | SALA 2022 was a confluence of art and literature featuring a dazzling array of writers, poets, and artists from the subcontinent. November 2022.
- Seema Magazine | Five Translators to Read. September 2022.
- D Magazine | Fill Your Summer With Books by North Texas Authors. August 2022.
- CLMP | Books Launching in July 2022.
- Lone Star Literary Life | July 2022 Texas Book Preview
- BombayReads | The Shehnai Virtuoso & Other Stories by Dhumketu. July 2022.
- Himalayan Writing Retreat Blog | 31 Top Book Translators in Indian Languages. July 2022.