Indian Mythology is so varied and vibrant and this collection translated by Arshia Sattar has made the tales more accessible for the 21st century reader. In eleventh century Kashmir, amidst the violence and bloodshed all around, Somadeva composed his tales for the Queen Suryamati, a princess of Jalandhara and wife of King Ananta of Kashmir. This collection is further divided into ten categories, ranging from the tales of the married life of Shiva and Parvati, to the stories included in the Panchatantra and stories of the reigns of the various Indian kings.

When I say, I do not remember reading a more diverse collection of stories laden with fantasy elements of demons and talking fishes to stories of housewives and seduction. Where Kathasaritsagara wins as a piece of fiction was that it was written masterfully just for entertainment purposes in an age where stories were religious and needed to provide a strong moral conclusion. Gods often play important roles in stories like the ones in Greek and Roman Mythology, and the presence of the Hindu Gods might primarily consider it as a Hindu text, but Kathasaritsagara is anything but religious in its tone. Stories of love and lust, wins and defeats, joys and sorrows and of simply celebrating life have been composed by Somadeva and which went on to inspire the world about the pleasures of storytelling. 

The stories chosen by Sattar provide an entire overview of the huge collection of stories in the original text compiled in Sanskrit at about 300 pages. Her Indianness is quintessential in her translation and showcases the beauty of upholding the true essence of the stories. "Tales from Kathasaritsagara" will be appreciated by Mythology lovers and by all who seek to read a good story.