William J. Jackson is Professor of Religious Studies at Indiana University-Purdue, University of Indianapolis, USA.

• Contents: Introduction; The legend of Vijayanagara's historical origins; Vidyaranya: sage, political adviser, music theorist, philosopher and biographer; Reflections on Vidyaranya, and the 'Hinduness' of Islamicate Vijayanagara; The Goddess' sword: Queen Ganga Devi's rousing story; and the archetype; Two poets of the people: Shripadaraya and Atukuri Molla; Popular worldly wisdom in the oral literature of Vemana and Baddena; Krishnadevaraya in the night kitchen: realizing his power at the peak of chaos' edge; Krishnadevaraya's legendary court jester and his dancing women; Poet: Kanakadasa's eloquent responses to caste prejudice; Achyutaraya: the coronation after the coronation; Conclusion: bad blood - wounded pride and retaliations; Index.

'Jackson's writing style is as graceful and refined as the subjects on whom he is writing. This is a major contribution to Hindu studies and to Telugu/Kannada literature. The author lets the subjects speak for themselves in an elegant and lucid narrative, at the same time situating them in South Indian history and weaving a thick unity of thought and purpose among them.' Professor S. S. Rama Rao Pappu, Miami University, USA 'This book is a useful contribution to Telugu-Kannada literature and Hindu studies...' Acta Comparanda 'This monograph makes for interesting reading. It is a valuable contribution to the corpus of research on Vijayanagara history and will be of interest to specialists of this period. However, even the non-specialist will find plentiful treasures in it.' South Asian Studies