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Nine Lives

In Search of the Sacred in Modern India
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( 8,516 ratings, 838 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Nine Lives by William Dalrymple delves into the spiritual traditions and practices across the Indian subcontinent. Through a collection of personal narratives, he explores the lives of nine unique figures, each embodying a distinct cultural and religious identity, offering a compelling insight into the diverse spiritual landscape of contemporary India. The book reveals how ancient faiths endure and adapt in the face of modern challenges.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you are intrigued by the diverse spiritual traditions of India. It offers a fascinating exploration of how ancient religious practices continue to shape the lives of nine ordinary people, weaving their personal stories with rich historical and cultural insights. This book may appeal to you if you appreciate narratives that blend history with the deeply personal journeys of individuals.

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Award-winning, critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling William Dalrymple takes us to the heart of an undiscovered India

Award-winning, critically acclaimed, internationally bestselling William Dalrymple takes us to the heart of an undiscovered India

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

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 to atone for the violence by hand printing the best prayer flags in India. A Jain nun tests her powers of detachment as she watches her best friend ritually starve herself to death.

Nine people, nine lives; each one taking a different religious path, each one an unforgettable story. William Dalrymple delves deep into the heart of a nation torn between the relentless onslaught of modernity and the ancient traditions that endure to this day.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Nine Lives by William Dalrymple receives high praise for its vivid depiction of India's spiritual landscape, combining elements of travelogue, ethnography, and oral history. Critics commend Dalrymple's storytelling skills, his deep curiosity and respect for the subjects, and his ability to weave a captivating narrative that offers insight into both historical and contemporary India. The book is noted for its blend of wit, warmth, and erudition, providing a compelling exploration of human experiences and cultural traditions in a rapidly transforming society.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781408878194

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 19 May 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 304

About the Author

William Dalrymple was born in Scotland and brought up on the shores of the Firth of Forth. He wrote the highly acclaimed bestseller In Xanadu when he was twenty-two. City of Djinns won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Sunday Times Young British Writer of the Year Award. The Age of Kali won the French Prix D'Astrolabe, Return of a King won the 2015 Hemingway Prize, and White Mughals won the Wolfson Prize for History 2003 and the Scottish Book of the Year Prize. The Last Mughal was longlisted for the Samuel Johnson Prize and won the Duff Cooper Memorial Prize. His most recent book is The Anarchy. He lives with his wife and three children on a farm outside Dehli.

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