The word "kama" means desire, especially for sensual pleasure, in Sanskrit. Its proper pursuit was considered an essential part of the well-rounded education of a young patrician. Treating enjoyment as an art, the Kama Sutra is a handbook covering every aspect of love, sex, social life and relationships, from increasing virility to seducing a new partner. It also gives a fascinating insight into the pampered world of the Indian elite nearly two thousand years ago. This acclaimed new translation takes the Kama Sutra away from its familiar image of an erotic Oriental curiosity and reveals it as a pithy and wry account of human behaviour. A.N.D.Haksar's introduction discusses the work's origins, authorship and influence, and this edition also contains extensive notes and a bibliography.
