I'm glad to see this new edition. I read Sultana's Dream decades ago but Padmarag is new to me. For her time, Rokeya Hossain was a progressive and pioneering writer who deserves a lot more attention for her contributions to the South Asian literary canon. Despite being born into a rich, privileged family in British India, she was not allowed to learn Bangla or English. That she learned these languages at home and then wrote Sultana's Dream at the age of 25 is remarkable. That she then went on to write rather prolifically across genres and forms makes her a singular literary phenomenon. These works are not just literary artifacts; they are also historical artifacts and we need to honor this writer's legacy by sharing them more widely.

This book has two stories: one, short science fiction from 1905 (Sultana's Dream), and a novella written in 1924 (Padmarag). Both works explore the impact of education and social activism on the fight for women's empowerment and are highly critical of the influence of colonialism with its aggressive expansion. For instance, it calls out the restrictive roles of British women in the administration, reinforcing patriarchal boundaries on femininity in Bengal. In both works, the author encourages an academic tradition based on feminism that goes against classism and sectarianism. Sultana's Dream takes place in an alternate reality (Ladyland), a peaceful and pollution-free land, where the gender roles have been reversed, and men are confined to men's quarter, the Mardana. Padmarag, while its science is purely fictional, its social change is genuinely achievable. It is a radical text aimed at reforming women's education. The novella takes place in a women's boarding house and girl's school (Tharini's House), providing equal opportunities for local girls regardless of class, religion, or caste. In both works, the author attempts to highlight the relevance of equality, women's education, and freedom.