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The Anarchy
The Relentless Rise of the East India Company
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Check link for latest rating. ( 17,687 ratings, 1,993 reviews)
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The Anarchy
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Description
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 East India Company triumphed over the young Mughal emperor, compelling him to institute a new administrative regime in his wealthiest provinces. What began as a trade organisation morphed into an unprecedented amalgamation of commerce and colonial ambition, with English merchants collecting taxes through a merciless private army.
The Anarchy is a critically acclaimed historical masterpiece that has garnered numerous accolades:
THE TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2019
THE TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
FINALIST FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE 2020
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2019
A FINANCIAL TIMES, OBSERVER, DAILY TELEGRAPH, WALL STREET JOURNAL AND TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR
"Dalrymple is a superb historian with a visceral understanding of India ... A book of beauty" β Gerard DeGroot, The Times
Through vivid storytelling and rigorous research, Dalrymple delves into the intricate and often dark history of the first global corporate power. Each page of the book unfolds a timely and cautionary tale, chronicling the tactics and transformations that allowed the East India Company to wield immense influence and control over vast regions of the Indian subcontinent. This is not just a history book, but a profound narrative exploring colonialism, corporate greed, and the ruthless quest for power, making The Anarchy a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of modern economic and political landscapes.
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?
An energetic and compelling page-turner, The Anarchy by William Dalrymple skilfully explodes patriotic myths and provides a forensic light on the historical relationship between commercial and imperial power. Richly researched and magnificently readable, it combines evocative descriptions with a narrative that highlights previously neglected perspectives. Dalrymple's engaging storytelling and deep insight make this an essential read on the history of the East India Company and its impact on British and South Asian history.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781408864395
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 03 September 2020
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 540g
Pages: 576
About the Author
William Dalrymple is one of Britainβs great historians and the bestselling author of the Wolfson Prize-winning White Mughals, The Last Mughal, which won the Duff Cooper Prize, and the Hemingway and Kapuscinski Prize-winning Return of a King. A frequent broadcaster, he has written and presented three television series, one of which won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary Series at BAFTA. He has also won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award, the Sunday Times Young British Writer of the Year Award, the Foreign Correspondent of the Year at the FPA Media Awards, and been awarded five honorary doctorates. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, the Royal Asiatic Society and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and has held visiting fellowships at Princeton and Brown. He writes regularly for the New York Review of Books, the New Yorker and the Guardian. In 2018 he was presented with the prestigious Presidentβs Medal by the British Academy for his outstanding literary achievement and for co-founding the Jaipur Literature Festival. William lives with his wife and three children on a farm outside Delhi.
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