Shakuntala: Texts, Readings, Histories by Romila Thapar is a scholarly exploration of the evolution of the Shakuntala narrative across centuries of Indian literature, history, and culture. Tracing the story from its earliest appearance in the Mahabharata through Kalidasa's celebrated play Abhijnanasakuntalam and later adaptations, Thapar examines how changing historical, social, and political contexts shaped different interpretations of the tale. Combining literary analysis with historical research, the book offers fresh insights into themes of memory, identity, gender, kingship, tradition, cultural transformation, and the reinterpretation of classical texts. It is an important resource for readers interested in Indian history, literature, and cultural studies.