The Wreck (1921)

The Wreck is a novel written by the Nobel Prize-winning Indian author, Rabindranath Tagore, and was first published in 1921. The story is set in the remote village of Chandipur, where the protagonist, Nirad, lives with his family. Nirad is a young man who is deeply in love with his childhood friend, Basanti. However, Basanti is engaged to another man, and their love is forbidden.One day, a shipwreck occurs on the nearby shore, and the villagers rush to the scene to loot the cargo. Nirad is among the looters, but he soon realizes that the cargo contains not only valuable goods but also human lives. He discovers a young woman, Nandini, who has miraculously survived the wreck. Nirad takes her under his protection and brings her to his home, where he and his family care for her.As Nirad spends more time with Nandini, he begins to develop feelings for her. However, Nandini is also engaged to another man, and she is torn between her duty and her growing love for Nirad. The novel explores themes of love, duty, and the conflict between tradition and modernity.Through the story of Nirad and Nandini, Tagore presents a critique of Indian society and its rigid social norms. He questions the idea of arranged marriages and the restrictions placed on women, and he advocates for individual freedom and the pursuit of true love.Overall, The Wreck is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the struggle for personal fulfillment in a society that values tradition over individual choice.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.