The twenty-five critical studies in the book which cover a wide spectrum of subjects, authors, titles and concepts across time and space, may be broadly classified into four categories : essays on (i) critical theory, (ii) on individual authors, (iii) in comparative literature and (iv) on language — in addition to a culture study focussed on the present day American scenario.
The essays which encompass the vast areas of knowledge from Plato to Derrida, from Bharata and Anandavardhana to Bankim, Tagore and contemporary Indian literary criticism as well as British, French, German, American and Indian authors are yet remarkable for profundity of thought, originality of approach and lucidity of expression.
These highly perceptive explorations into the Western and the Indian intellectual traditions offer a rich aesthetic experience, and while scholars will immensely benefit from the book, the general readers will also find it highly interesting and enjoyable.
A full Professor since 1982, Professor Mohit K. Ray is one of the seniormost professors in the country. He has two books and a large number of research papers published in scholarly journals in India and abroad, which reflect his wide range of scholarship including Criticism, Comparative Literature, New Literatures, Canonical Literature, Comparative Poetics and Translation Studies.
Professor Ray is associated with many international bodies, and has attended and chaired sessions as an invited participant in many international conferences held in different parts of the world — England, France, Austria, Finland, Estonia, America, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, etc.
Professor Ray has studied several languages including Latin, Sanskrit, Arabic, French and German, etc.
He edits two research journals.