“[A] charming retelling of Hanuman's visit to Lanka[...] her insightful studies of her four subjects at times suggest to me a more complex and equivocal relationship with colonial ideology and its hegemonic language.”
—Journal of the American Oriental Society
“The Audacious Raconteur is an unusual and compellingly written book that will leave a lasting mark in the field.”
—Ajay Skaria, University of Minnesota, author of Unconditional Equality
“The Audacious Raconteur is an amazingly compact, original, brilliant book. Leela Prasad's meticulous, tireless research uncovers fascinating and unique histories of the four ‘audacious raconteurs.’”
—Ann Grodzins Gold, Syracuse University, author of Shiptown
“Acting as sleuth, storyteller and scholar, Leela Prasad introduces us to four irrepressible figures, whose lives and voices asserted a kind of sovereign subjectivity even under colonial rule. This is a remarkable book that showcases Prasad's critical vision, her attentive ear, and her sympathy for her subjects.”
—Brian A. Hatcher, Tufts University, author of Hinduism Before Reform