Cummins, Maureen – Phantasies of a Love Thief.
(Cummins Maureen) Phantasies of a Love Thief. A modern translation by Barbara Stoler Miller of the Eleventh Century Sanskrit lyric poem, the Caurapancasika, or “Fifty Verses by a Thief”. Multiple-color block prints by Maureen Cummins. Inanna Press. New York. 1994. 45p. 9″ x 18″. Titling calligraphy by Jerry Kelly. Printed letterpress on snow-white Sekishu paper with endpapers of purple paper from Nepal. Bound in Oriental style, an open spine side-sewn with black cord and adorned with deep purple corners. Covers of black Japanese silk with glimmers of gold and inset bands of jewel-like flame. An edition of 30 signed copies. This is a unique copy with the 4 original woodblocks used in the book laid into special see-through areas of a black silk covered dropback box. Fine.
Barbara Stoler Miller was professor of Oriental Studies at Barnard College, and was one of the world’s most renowned translators of the Sanskrit classics. Her illuminating introduction to this text was written especially for this edition. According to legend, the author of the Caurapancaskia, a traveling court poet named Bilhana, became involved in a secret affair with the King’s young daughter, whom he was supposed to be instructing in the subtleties of literature. When, through his recklessness, they were discovered, her father condemned him to death by hanging. While in prison, Bilhana composed fifty stanzas to evoke his love and recited them as he was being led to the gallows. The power and beauty of the verse so moved the King and the Goddess Kala that Bilhana was granted both his life and the hand of the Princess.
Related items: Artists' Books, Catalogue 37 - Summer 2009, Catalogue 40- Spring-Summer 2011, Poetry, Cummins, Maureen, Maureen Cummins