The Witch Doctor and Other Essays

From the backcover Laxmi Prasad Devkota (1909-1959), the most acclaimed poet of Nepal, was a polymath of diverse literary talents. Besides his poetry, he excelled as an essayist, short story writer, novelist, playwright, songwriter and composer of epics. Among his notable achievements is the renowned collection of thirty-seven essays in Nepali, titled Laxmi Nibandha Sangraha (1945), which stands as a timeless literary masterpiece. Dadimko Rukhaneera, another compilation published in 1982, showcases some of his finest work. In addition to these Nepali essays, Devkota wrote a considerable body of essays in English, solidifying his status as a premier essayist in Nepal. This anthology compiles thirty of Devkota's English essays, offering a glimpse into his exceptional linguistic versatility and further highlighting his prowess in the essay genre.