The Indian version of The Iliad. Very entertaining. One gets the impression of just how old Indian culture truly is. ( )

Like ancient Greece, India claims two great epics: the Ramayana, a recounting of the adventures of a banished prince who wanders for years in the wilderness, bears a resemblance to the Odyssey; the Mahabharata, based on the legends surrounding a war in which all of Northern India took part, is the country's Iliad. Together, the two represent the epic literature of the ancient Hindus, offering latter-day readers the most realistic image of the civilization and culture of 3,000 years ago--its political and social life as well as its religion and philosophy. The Mahabharata depicts the political climate of ancient India, with tales of valor and heroism, ambition, and chivalry. The Ramayana portrays domestic and religious life, with vignettes of tenderness, endurance, and devotion. This condensed version of the staggeringly long tales features selections from cantos that convey the leading incidents of each epic, linking them with short notes.