Premchand is the most famous Hindi novelist, and Godaan is Premchand'smost celebrated novel. Economic and social conflict in a north Indian village arebrilliantly captured in the story of Hori, a poor farmer, and his family's strugglefor survival and self-respect. Hori does everything he can to fulfill his life'sdesire: to own a cow, the peasant's measure of wealth and well-being. An engagingintroduction to India before Independence, Godaan is at once village ethnography, moving human document, and insightful colonial history. Out of print for many years, this translation is regarded as a classic in itself.