Rabrindinath Tagore (7th May, 1861 – 7th August, 1941) should need little introduction since this Renaissance Man excelled not only in novels, but poetry, short stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays that spoke to generations around the world of universal themes both political and personal. He reshaped Bengali literature and was the first non European to win the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913. His acclaimed novel The Home and the World is set in early 20th century India when the newly formed Swadeshi Movement, a part of the Indian Nationalist Movement, aimed to ultimately achieve Indian independence and resist British colonialisation by a renewed appreciation of all things Indian and a denial of all British imports. Against this political climate is a love story with the central character, Bimala, torn between her duties to her husband, Nikhil, and demands on her by the politically radical Swadeshi leader, Sandip. This conflict between her home and the world outside it is at the heart of this novel and parallels the conflict of the country itself. It also illustrates the battle Tagore had between the attraction and denunciation of Western culture. His skilful and poetic style coupled with his simple and profound storytelling, heighten the dramatic tensions making this brilliant prophetic parable work on many levels.