Bangla Upanyaser Nayakera by Akimun Rahman [Hardcover]

Some characters burn brightly and eternally in the human psyche like flames—unextinguished, luminous. They are the ones who seek to transcend the realm of dreams and imagination and take form in the breath and flesh of reality. We encounter them in novels. They illuminate the present with the glow of our dormant desires, lighting up the compass of our time like stars of yearning. Researcher, essayist, and fiction writer Akimun Rahman has laid bare the nerves of several such characters—tormented by the pains of creation. She has conducted extensive research on various aspects of Bengali novels and authored numerous essays infused with new perspectives and theoretical insights. Several of her books have already been published. In *The Heroes of the Bengali Novel*, the collection of essays compiled in this book, Akimun Rahman presents her well-reasoned arguments and thoughtful opinions. Departing from conventional character analyses, she explores the development and transformation of key protagonists in notable Bengali novels through a global artistic lens. At times, she sheds light on how these characters defy the structures of the social frameworks they emerge from, revealing themselves in unexpected ways. As a result, characters like Srikanta, Indranath, and Trilokeshwar Shonku are no longer confined to the realm of beloved fictional figures. They become alchemical agents of creation and artistic potential. To our knowledge, such an in-depth exploration of these significant characters in Bengali fiction has not been compiled in book form before. Akimun Rahman’s work is undoubtedly an important contribution to Bengali essay literature.