This book is not a translation of the Therigatha. One could say that Weingasts poems are at most inspired by the early Buddhist nuns.

The poems in The First Free Women are from the Therigatha (Verses of the Elder Nuns). Translator Marty Weingast explains in the introduction that this edition is not a literal word-for-word translation, but an adaptation that remains true to the original essence of the poems.

I am not a Buddhist and have little understanding of the religion, but I enjoy reading poetry. I could not understand all the terms and connotations in these poems, but I found many of the subjects deeply relatable. Though they were written long ago, these women struggled with issues that women deal with today: longing for freedom, releasing the past, searching for empowerment, a desire for respect, etc.

While I found the poems to be interesting and beautiful, I expect that practicing Buddhists would glean far more from The First Free Women: Poems of the Early Buddhist Nuns than I did.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this product via the Amazon Vine program. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )