Christopher Harding

The man who got the West to fall in love with India’s sacred literature

How William Jones's ground-breaking argument in favour of 'Asiatic poetry', published 250 years ago, captivated Europe's men of letters

Illustration of Radha and Krishna (c. 1785), the central lovers of 12th-century poem ‘Gita-Govinda’, by Jayadeva, translated by William Jones in 1792. © Christie’s Images/Bridgeman Images  
issue 20 January 2024
GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY 3 MONTHS FOR $5
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Start your 3-month trial today for just $5 and subscribe to more than one view

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in