1. Urdu Literature – Writings – Essays. “The essays in this book were written over a period of several years. They are not meant to be exhaustive studies of the lives and works of these poets and writers. That would require several volumes devoted to each of these literary giants. These writings are merely collections emphasizing various aspects of the works of these artists that we have found interesting and enjoyable over the years. We have also made an attempt to frame the narrative within the era in which they lived since an artist, like everyone else, is ultimate a product of his or her times. Our hope is that these brief glimpses into their lives will inspire the reader to delve deeper into their work.” – Taken from the back cover of the book