Honestly, I had to Wikipedia the work to have even a modicum of understanding regarding its greater meaning and significance. That right there tells you that this was not a good translated publication. Although this book did include a significant introduction, it assumed much prior knowledge of Indian culture and Sanskrit poetry. I was disappointed in Miller's work as a scholar in not making her work more accessible to an uneducated audience.
The poem itself was provocative. Radha loves Krishna, but is tormented by his cheating on her and then returning to her. The poem seems to switch points of view, which I found fascinating. You don't get that sense of perspective from 12th century European poetry! Of course, the vibrant descriptions of nature mixed with the very detailed, body-centered descriptions of the lovers evoked a light eroticism that conveyed the emotions of the characters very well.
I wish I was more well-versed in the mythology of the main characters. I feel this is one reading for which you definitely need solid context to appreciate it properly.
~6/10~
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