Recommended Book: Indian Summer
Posted on 02. Oct, 2009 by David in Blog, Books
Indian Summer: The Secret History Of The End Of An Empire by Alex von Tunzelmann
I recently finished reading this excellent book on the history of the Partition of India that created the countries of India and Pakistan (and eventually Bangladesh). On the cover of the edition I bought is this quote from William Dalrymple:
“Unquestionably the best book I have ever read on the Independence and Partition of Indian and Pakistan…a flat out masterpiece.”
As Dalrymple is one of my favorite authors that was all I needed to know to buy this book. I was not disappointed as the book proved to be fascinating account of this significant time in world history.
The book contains a whole chapter focusing on Kashmir in the aftermath of India and Pakistan’s Independence. Near the beginning of the chapter von Tunzelmann states, “It is impossible to tell the story of what happened in Kashmir without upsetting at least one, or more likely, all of the factions that remain involved.” True, but she still does a good job of telling that story as complicated and controversial as it is.
If you enjoy historical narratives, this book is well worth reading. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to learn more about India. You can check it out amazon.com or visit the author’s website.
Kashmir Gallery
