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White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
 

White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India

by William Dalrymple

Conjuring all the sweep of a great nineteenth-century novel, acclaimed author William Dalrymple unearths the fascinating story of the British Resident at the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad, James Kirkpatrick, who in 1798 fell in love with the great-niece of the Hyderabadi prime minister. To marry her, Kirkpatrick converted to Islam and even became a double agent working against the East India... (read more)

Top tags: india,  history,  historical fiction,  british india,  hyderabad (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

Agosh
  • Rated 4 stars

“Title itself suggests how intriguing and enticing this could be... This is one rare book which is though based on a Non-fictional acct built on top of a thorough research gives you the same kind of juicy taste as the plots and subplots in a racy Romantic Fiction. This was the years Top Notch book in India rated very highly by everyone. I had a rare of chance of devouring a Hard Bound with beautiful seam and all during my Grad years... Thanks to my best Friend. Do read this... It gives lot of...”

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Didn’t Like It

perplexed butterfly
  • Rated 2 stars

“I couldn't get past the first 50 pages. I agree this is a well-researched book, or so the author would like us to know. He continuously quotes and reassures the reader that what he describes is actually true.

In a book that is categorized as historical fiction I would rather the author didn't bore me.

I venture that if I were a speed reader then I would have been able to enjoy the book.”

perplexed butterfly’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 3.7 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 5 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Grapes

    grapes said:

    “This book sounds so interesting. I have put it on my list for the library.
    grapes”

    posted 1 day ago
  • sonia n

    sonia n said:

    “Actually the book is written in a way which makes it a whole lot more interesting than normal history books. I did not find it at all boring ( but then I am a pretty fast reader).
    What I like about it was that WD stuck to the facts and though he must have been tempted to add a few emotions (which definatly would have been a part of James and Khair's life), he did not do it . He gave us only what could be historically proven.
    I liked the book not because of its romantic element (which I have to admit left a slightly bad taste in my mouth) but rather because it openly tells us about the unfair means East India Company used to capture Indian lands at that time.
    http://www.simplecapricorn.blogspot.com/
    ”

    posted Wednesday, February 20 2008
  • Vikas

    vikas said:

    “While it is enjoyable to read historical (and geographical) details of 17 century Hyderabad, its equally fascinating that someone could research in so much depth...letters, travelogues, monographs, pen-portraits. Sheer amount of literature behind writing this tome could be a thesis in itself. ”

    posted Wednesday, February 6 2008
  • taher M

    taher m said:

    “DID you read the "The Last Mughal"”

    posted Saturday, October 27 2007
  • Sahishnu M

    sahishnu m said:

    “The most path breaking story, hardly known history of India, a society that can absorb anything or anybody.”

    posted Thursday, October 18 2007
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