It's a William Dalrymple day. William Dalrymple is a Scottish historian who first encountered India when he was 17. He has been entranced ever since.
First, I came across an article in the New York Times about a literary conference he is helping to direct in Jaipur. Salman Rushdie, an invited participant, was notified of threats to his life and advised not to attend. He did not attend, but some authors present read paragraphs from his work. This is illegal in India.
Next, the three Dalrymple books I ordered last week arrived. He is an amazing historian, with excellent narrative skills. I read "The Last Mughal" which focused on issues surrounding the princely states as India headed toward Independence. Now I have "White Mughals", the true story of a great romance between a British resident of the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad and a direct descendant of Mohammed, a great niece of the Nizam's Prime Minister. It took place in the late 18th century after two centuries of British rule in India and casts light on the many British colonizers who "went Native." The other books are "City of Djinns" about the many layers and complexities of Delhi, and "Nine Lives in Search of the Sacred in Modern India".
All this Dalyrmple reading is in preparation to seeing him speak at the Asia Society next month. I'm not a history buff, but he makes his subjects so fascinating that you can't help but want more. .
First, I came across an article in the New York Times about a literary conference he is helping to direct in Jaipur. Salman Rushdie, an invited participant, was notified of threats to his life and advised not to attend. He did not attend, but some authors present read paragraphs from his work. This is illegal in India.
Next, the three Dalrymple books I ordered last week arrived. He is an amazing historian, with excellent narrative skills. I read "The Last Mughal" which focused on issues surrounding the princely states as India headed toward Independence. Now I have "White Mughals", the true story of a great romance between a British resident of the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad and a direct descendant of Mohammed, a great niece of the Nizam's Prime Minister. It took place in the late 18th century after two centuries of British rule in India and casts light on the many British colonizers who "went Native." The other books are "City of Djinns" about the many layers and complexities of Delhi, and "Nine Lives in Search of the Sacred in Modern India".
All this Dalyrmple reading is in preparation to seeing him speak at the Asia Society next month. I'm not a history buff, but he makes his subjects so fascinating that you can't help but want more. .
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