This volume provides a critical introduction to Nepali literature written by authors living in Nepal and overseas. Besides presenting a historical overview of the field, the book also discusses some of the prevalent themes in Nepali literature. It contains chapters on several canonical writers such as Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Madhav Prasad Ghimire, and Balkrishna Sama, as well as contemporary Nepali writers including Abhi Subedi, Ranjan Adiga, and Prajwal Parajuli. A key feature of the book is its focus on form as it covers the most popular genres in Nepali literature including poetry, short story, play, essay, novel, and digital and experimental literature. The chapters engage with Nepal’s diverse socio-political and cultural realities and explore a range of themes such as LGBTQ rights and activism, Dalit literature, feminism and diaspora, while articulating pressing issues of belonging, diversity, and inclusion.

The volume will be of great interest to scholars and researchers of literature and culture studies, South Asian studies, and Nepal and Himalayan studies.

Puspa Damai is Professor of English at Marshall University, West Virginia, USA. He is the founding editor-in-chief of Critical Humanities. He also co-edits Routledge's book series South Asian Literature in Focus. His publications include two edited volumes: Contemporary Literary and Cultural Theory: Concepts and Applications (2025), and The Other Nepal: Alterity in Nepali Literature and Culture (2026).