The book in your hand introduces Tulsi’s Awadhi masterpiece to readers who are already at home in modern standard Hindi. Introductory chapters outline the significance of the text, introduce Tulsi’s Awadhi and his poetic metres, summarise the narrative, and offer a close reading of a key passage. The main section of the book features selections from all seven chapters of the Manas, with the shortest one (Kiskindhakand, on events in the monkey kingdom) appearing in full; the copiously annotated English translations are designed to reflect the originals as closely as possible, and are followed by a comprehensive etymological glossary.