William Dalrymple

The instant Sunday Times bestseller A revolutionary new history of the diffusion of Indian ideas, from the award-winning, bestselling author and co-host of the chart-topping Empire podcast. ‘Richly woven, highly readable ... Written with passion and verve’ Spectator ‘Dazzling ... Not just a historical study but also a love letter’ Guardian ‘An outstanding new account ... The most compelling retelling...

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE 2013 'As taut and richly embroidered as a great novel . . . a masterpiece' Sunday Telegraph 'Dazzling' Sunday Times | 'Magnificent' Guardian | 'Sparkling' Daily Telegraph A towering history of the first Afghan War by bestselling historian William Dalrymple. In the spring of 1839, Britain commenced its first ambitious foray into Afghanistan. Nearly...

City of Djinns by William Dalrymple is a captivating exploration of one of the world's most intriguing cities. Spanning a year in Delhi, Dalrymple embarks on a journey tracing the city’s vast history, delving into its numerous incarnations over the millennia. Each layer of Delhi's history is meticulously peeled back, revealing a rich mosaic of cultures, stories, and legends that...

On a dark evening in November 1862, a cheap coffin is buried in eerie silence. There are no lamentations or panegyrics, for the British Commissioner in charge has insisted, 'No vestige will remain to distinguish where the last of the Great Mughals rests.' This Mughal is Bahadur Shah Zafar II, one of the most tolerant and likeable of his remarkable...

THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER A Waterstones and TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR A SPECTATOR and History Today BOOK OF THE YEAR A revolutionary new history of the diffusion of Indian ideas, from the award-winning, bestselling author and co-host of the chart-topping Empire podcast ‘Richly woven, highly readable ... Written with passion and verve’ Spectator ‘Dazzling ... Not just...

At the age of twenty-two, William Dalrymple sets out from his college in Cambridge on an ambitious journey to the storied ruins of Kublai Khan's stately pleasure dome in Xanadu. In In Xanadu, Dalrymple embarks on an epic quest across the breadth of Asia, traversing ancient, dusty roads, and weaving through a tapestry of diverse cultures and landscapes. His odyssey...

In the spring of 587 AD, two monks set off on an extraordinary journey that would take them in an arc across the entire Byzantine world, from the shores of the Bosphorus to the sand dunes of Egypt. On the way, John Moschos and his pupil Sophronius the Sophist stayed in caves, monasteries, and remote hermitages, collecting the wisdom of...

William Dalrymple's The Age of Kali is an evocative collection of essays vividly recounting the multifaceted cultural, political, and social landscapes of India during the twilight years of the 20th century. Through his engaging and often startling narratives, Dalrymple offers readers an intimate glimpse into the contrasting worlds that coexist within the subcontinent. With a keen eye for detail and...

White Mughals by William Dalrymple is a captivating and heart-wrenching tale set in late 18th and early 19th century India. It chronicles the passionate love affair between James Achilles Kirkpatrick, the British Resident at the court of Hyderabad, and Khair un-Nissa, the enchanting great-niece of the Prime Minister of Hyderabad. Their romance defies the rigid cultural, religious, and political boundaries...

Koh-i-Noor by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple offers the first comprehensive and authoritative history of the Koh-i-Noor, arguably the most celebrated and mythologised jewel in the world. On 29 March 1849, the ten-year-old Maharaja of Punjab was ushered into the magnificent Mirrored Hall at the centre of the great fort in Lahore. In a sombre and public ceremony, the frightened...

LONGLISTED FOR THE SAMUEL JOHNSON PRIZE ‘Beautifully written, ridiculously erudite, warm and open-hearted’ The Times ‘Compelling and poignant’ Guardian ‘This is travel writing at its best’ Observer Internationally bestselling William Dalrymple takes us to the heart of an undiscovered India. A Buddhist monk takes up arms to resist the Chinese invasion of Tibet—then spends the rest of his life trying...

The Anarchy by William Dalrymple meticulously charts the rise of the East India Company from a modest enterprise to a formidable colonial force. Set against the backdrop of a crumbling Mughal Empire and a burgeoning British dominance, the book provides a captivating narrative of power, ambition, and historical upheaval. In August 1765, a pivotal moment in history occurred as the...

The instant Sunday Times bestseller A Waterstones and Times history book of the year A Spectator and History Today book of the year A revolutionary new history of the diffusion of Indian ideas, from the award-winning, bestselling author and co-host of the chart-topping Empire podcast. ‘Richly woven, highly readable ... Written with passion and verve’ Spectator ‘Dazzling ... Not just...

As the East India Company extended its sway across India in the late eighteenth century, many remarkable artworks were commissioned by Company officials from Indian painters who had previously worked for the Mughals. Published to coincide with the first UK exhibition of these masterworks at The Wallace Collection, this book celebrates the work of a series of extraordinary Indian artists,...