F. W. Bain
Encyclopedia
Francis William Bain was a British writer of fantasy stories that he claimed were translated from Sanskrit
.
, before going up to Christ Church, Oxford
where he distinguished himself as a student of Classics. In 1889, he was elected a fellow of All Souls College.
In his youth he was a keen amateur footballer, representing the University
against Cambridge between 1883 and 1886; he was also a member of the leading amateur teams of the time, Wanderers
and Corinthians.
In 1892, he entered the Indian Educational Service, going on to become a professor of History in the Deccan College
of Poonah (Pune
), in British India, until his retirement in 1919. He died on 3 March 1940.
), which Bain claimed was his translation of the eighth part of sixteen of a Sanskrit manuscript given to him by a brahmin
. In the story, the king Súryakánta falls in love with the wise and beautiful princess Anangarágá, who will marry only the suitor who asks her a question she cannot answer. The king, with his clever friend Rasakósha, sets off to win the hand of the princess.
During Bain's life, argument raged about whether the story was truly a translation or whether Bain had written it himself. While some early reviewers took his statements at face value, many did not. A contemporary review said, in part:
The book contains numerous footnotes referring to Sanskrit puns and wordplay that the author claimed to have been unable to render in English.
A Digit of the Moon was followed by a number of other stories in the same mode: Syrup of the Bees, Bubbles of the Foam, Essence of the Dusk, Ashes of a God, Mine of Faults, Heifer of the Dawn, and others. As more books appeared, it became clearer that Bain was writing these stories himself, not translating. A review of Bubbles of the Foam in 1912 said:
Before his fantasy series, he also wrote other works, including political works. One was "Antichrist: A Short Examination of the Spirit of the Age":
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
.
Biography
He was born on 29 April 1863, the son of Joseph Bain. He was educated at Westminster SchoolWestminster School
The Royal College of St. Peter in Westminster, almost always known as Westminster School, is one of Britain's leading independent schools, with the highest Oxford and Cambridge acceptance rate of any secondary school or college in Britain...
, before going up to Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
where he distinguished himself as a student of Classics. In 1889, he was elected a fellow of All Souls College.
In his youth he was a keen amateur footballer, representing the University
Oxford University A.F.C.
Oxford University Association Football Club is an English football club representing the University of Oxford.-History:Formed in 1872, the club was a giant of the 1870s, winning the FA Cup 2-0 against Royal Engineers in 1874 and finishing the competition as runners up in 1873, 1877 and 1880, the...
against Cambridge between 1883 and 1886; he was also a member of the leading amateur teams of the time, Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
and Corinthians.
In 1892, he entered the Indian Educational Service, going on to become a professor of History in the Deccan College
Deccan College (Pune)
Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute is a post-graduate institute of Archeology and Linguistics in Pune, India.Established October 6, 1821, Deccan College is one of the oldest institutions of modern learning in India...
of Poonah (Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
), in British India, until his retirement in 1919. He died on 3 March 1940.
Writings
The first of these was A Digit of the Moon (18981898 in literature
The year 1898 in literature involved some significant new books.-New books:*Elizabeth von Arnim - Elizabeth and Her German Garden*F. W. Bain - A Digit of the Moon*L...
), which Bain claimed was his translation of the eighth part of sixteen of a Sanskrit manuscript given to him by a brahmin
Brahmin
Brahmin Brahman, Brahma and Brahmin.Brahman, Brahmin and Brahma have different meanings. Brahman refers to the Supreme Self...
. In the story, the king Súryakánta falls in love with the wise and beautiful princess Anangarágá, who will marry only the suitor who asks her a question she cannot answer. The king, with his clever friend Rasakósha, sets off to win the hand of the princess.
During Bain's life, argument raged about whether the story was truly a translation or whether Bain had written it himself. While some early reviewers took his statements at face value, many did not. A contemporary review said, in part:
- Though palpably a pretence, they are graceful fancies, and might as well have appeared for what they really are instead of masquerading as "translations". No Hindu, unless of this generation and under foreign influence, ever conceived these stories. . . . Moveover, they are of a strict propriety, whereas original Hindu love stories would put Rabelais's ghost to the blush.
The book contains numerous footnotes referring to Sanskrit puns and wordplay that the author claimed to have been unable to render in English.
A Digit of the Moon was followed by a number of other stories in the same mode: Syrup of the Bees, Bubbles of the Foam, Essence of the Dusk, Ashes of a God, Mine of Faults, Heifer of the Dawn, and others. As more books appeared, it became clearer that Bain was writing these stories himself, not translating. A review of Bubbles of the Foam in 1912 said:
- Yet, despite the beauty of the whole, there is much in the volume that seems non-Indian; in fact, distinctly Occidental. The phraseology lacks in great part the subtle Sanskrit flavor…
Before his fantasy series, he also wrote other works, including political works. One was "Antichrist: A Short Examination of the Spirit of the Age":
- It is difficult for a critic to do justice to a book which he finds irritating from cover to cover. Mr. Bain starts from the position that the French Revolution was "not necessary." […]
External links
- A Digit of the Moon on Archive.org; several other copies
- The Indian Stories of F. W. Bain, at the Internet Sacred Texts Archive