Iroppiyargal Yezhuthiya Thamizh Urainadai Noolgalum Ilakkiya Valarchiyum Achchidapaduthalum Vaasippu Varalaarum 1580-1872

This book highlights the arrival of Christian missionaries and the distinctive features of writing and printing prose works in Tamil. It sheds light in a clear and detailed manner on the Christian metaphysical and theological works written in prose by Roberto Nobili (1623–1642); the Catholic doctrinal, monastic, mystical–theological, and ethical works written by Emmanuel Martin and Jean Venan Busset (1634–1731); the spiritual prose works of Pierre Mauduit and Charles Michel Bertoldi (1703–1735); the prose writings on Christianity by Constanzo Giuseppe Beschi (1720–1739); the spiritual prose works of Jacome Tommaso Rossi (1744–1751); and the Christian Tamil prose works of Louis Savinien Dupuis from Pondicherry (1840–1872). It also discusses the Protestant Christian prose works written by Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg of Tharangambadi and Benjamin Schultze of Chennai, the new prose literary practices of the Tharangambadi catechists, and the influence exerted by the missionaries. Through documentary evidence, it presents new perspectives on Tamil prose works written by Europeans, the development of literature, printing, and the history of reading.