Durgeshnandini (Best of India Classics)

Dashing young Jagat is sent by his father, Mughal general Mansingh, to quell the Pathan uprising in Bengal. There he falls in love with Tilottama, the alluring daughter of chieftain Birendra Singh only to discover-too late-of the bitter rivalry between their two families. Stirring and colourful, Durgeshnandini (1865) created a sensation among Bengali readers with its vigorous storytelling and its bold portrayal of romantic love. It is regarded as the first novel in indian literature.