The Dragon’s Heart: World Poetry in Translation is a rich and diverse anthology of poetry drawn from the treasure trove of Poetry at Sangam, a distinguished online literary journal that over a decade became a nexus for voices both Indian and international. Co-edited by Founding Editor Priya Sarukkai Chabria and Deputy Editor Mrinalini Harchandrai, this anthology stands as testament to the vastness of literary expression, offering an invitation to explore translation in all its nuanced forms. The anthology honours plurality, not only in featuring 33 languages across India and the world, but also in the very methods by which the written word is reimagined and rendered into English. What makes this anthology especially unique is the inclusion of ‘Translator’s Notes’ for each contribution. In these ‘Notes’, readers encounter a wide-ranging spectrum of translation practices and are invited into the intimate process of literary transformation, where imagination and strategy intersect. The anthology is further enriched by insightful introductions provided by the Editors and a host of distinguished Guest Editors, whose ‘Editor’s Notes’ set the tone and provide essential context for each translated work. The Dragon’s Heart is a global literary mosaic, and in every sense, this volume is a fitting tribute to the power of translation, the enduring pulse of poetry and the transformative beauty of language itself.
Review in Kitaab.
