Written over a hundred years ago, Rokeya Hossain’s idea of a feminine utopia is a wondrous one that inspires, the story of Padmarag though uninteresting at times was ultimately quite sweet, enchanting even, and by the last few chapters as hearts swelled and loves rounded out I was giddy, saying out loud to myself ‘I do love a romance’.

Noting also the final brief essays on religion, tradition, education, and women’s role in Indian society - I am reminded of a Francis Bacon quote, “Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted... but to weigh and consider.” It is certainly how I would like to behold life and the world, and these words, these worlds, these stories of another time.