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Alex Von Tunzelmann
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Book
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Publisher | Simon & Schuster | ||
ISBN | 9780743285889 | ||
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Reviewer
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Vicky
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Synopsis
The stroke of midnight on 15 August 1947 liberated 400 million Indians from the British Empire. One of the defining moments of world history had been brought about by a tiny number of people, including Jawaharlal Nehru, the fiery prime minister-to-be; Gandhi, the mystical figure who enthralled a nation; and Louis and Edwina Mountbatten, the glamorous but unlikely couple who had been dispatched to get Britain out of India without delay. Within hours of the midnight chimes, however, the two new nations of India and Pakistan would descend into anarchy and terror. Nehru, Gandhi and the Mountbattens struggled with public and private turmoil while their dreams of freedom and democracy turned to chaos, bloodshed, genocide and war. INDIAN SUMMER depicts the epic sweep of events that ripped apart the greatest empire the world has ever seen, and reveals the secrets of the most powerful players on the world stage: the Cold War conspiracies, the private deals, and the intense and clandestine love affair between the wife of the last viceroy and the first prime minister of free India. With wit, insight and a sharp eye for detail, Alex von Tunzelmann relates how a handful of people changed the world for ever.
Review
Indian Summer is the sort of history book that every school should have in their libraries. Alex Von Tunzelmann has made the history of India during the time independence and partition absolutely fascinating. Her anecdotes about the main players during this time made me want to find out more on India, it's heritage, myths, legends, culture and religions that make it the vibrant place it is.
Having read it once it enticed me to read it again at a much slower place just to take in the colour and atmosphere of such momentous events.
I highly recommend this easy to read book. You can listen to her interview here .
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