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White Mughals
Love and Betrayal in 18th-Century India
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White Mughals
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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?
From the author of the Samuel Johnson prize-shortlisted βReturn of a Kingβ, the romantic and ultimately tragic tale of a passionate love affair that transcended all the cultural, religious and political boundaries of its time.
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Description
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 of the time, leading Kirkpatrick to convert to Islam and, according to some Indian sources, become a double agent working against the East India Company.
The narrative delves deep into the multifaceted characters and convoluted political landscape of colonial India, revealing a world wherein kirkpatrick and Khair un-Nissa's secret meetings and eventual marriage ignite a swirl of court intrigue, religious tensions, and familial disputes. It paints a vivid picture of a bygone era where 'white Mughals', Europeans who embraced Indian customs and clothing, became a source of diplomatic embarrassment and complex cultural interactions from the early sixteenth century to the eve of the Indian Mutiny.
Dalrympleβs meticulous research brings to life a host of colourful figures, including βHindoo Stuartβ, who travelled with his own team of Brahmins to maintain his temple of idols, and Sir David Auchterlony, who famously promenaded with all thirteen of his Indian wives, each perched on the back of their own elephant. Through these engrossing anecdotes, Dalrymple uncovers a world hitherto unexplored by history, placing at its centre a compelling narrative of seduction, betrayal, and the intricate dance of power and passion.
Rendered in rich, evocative prose, White Mughals is the product of five yearsβ writing and research, and triumphantly confirms William Dalrympleβs reputation as one of the finest writers and historians working today. His vivid portrayal of historical characters and settings transports the reader into the heart of colonial India, offering both an intimate love story and a sweeping cultural epic. This poignant tale is a must-read for those captivated by history, romance, and the nuanced intersections of diverse cultures.
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?
*i>White Mughals by William Dalrymple has been highly praised for its masterful blend of scholarship and narrative. Reviewers have highlighted the book as a remarkable and stunning achievement, with a compelling and entertaining style. It is noted for being thought-provoking and beautifully written, captivating readers with its depth of research and vivid storytelling.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780006550969
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 07 April 2003
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: HarperPerennial
Illustration: 24 b/w, 24 col illus
Audience: Tertiary education
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 41.0mm
Width: 129.0mm
Height: 198.0mm
Weight: 480g
Pages: 640
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. The book won the 1990 Yorkshire Post Best First Work Award and a Scottish Arts Council Spring Book Award; it was also shortlisted for the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize. In 1989 Dalrymple moved to Delhi where he lived for six years researching his second book, City of Djinns, which won the 1994 Thomas Cook Travel Book Award and the Sunday Times Young British Writer of the Year Award. From the Holy Mountain, his acclaimed study of the demise of Christianity in its Middle Eastern homeland, was awarded the Scottish Arts Council Autumn Book Award for 1997; it was also shortlisted for the 1998 Thomas Cook Award, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and the Duff Cooper Prize. A collection of his writings about India, The Age of Kali, was published in 1998. William Dalrymple is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and of the Royal Asiatic Society, and in 2002 was awarded the Mungo Park Medal by the Royal Scottish Geographical Society for his βoutstanding contribution to travel literatureβ. He wrote and presented the television series Stones of the Raj and Indian Journeys, which won the Grierson Award for Best Documentary Series at BAFTA in 2002. He is married to the artist Olivia Fraser, and they have three children. They now divide their time between London and Delhi.
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