Indian Summer: Summary and book reviews of Indian Summer by Alex Von Tunzelmann, plus links to an excerpt from Indian Summer and a biography of Alex Von Tunzelmann.
Indian Summer The Secret History of the End of an Empire
by Alex Von Tunzelmann
Hardcover: Aug 2007,
416 pages.
Paperback: Sep 2008,
448 pages.
The stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, liberated 400 million people from the British Empire. With the loss of India, its greatest colony, Britain ceased to be a superpower, and its king ceased to sign himself Rex Imperator.
This defining moment of world history had been brought about by a handful of people. Among them were Jawaharlal Nehru, the fiery Indian prime minister; Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the leader of the new Islamic Republic of Pakistan; Mohandas 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. Within hours of the midnight chimes, their dreams of freedom and democracy would turn to chaos, bloodshed, and war.
Behind the scenes, a secret personal drama was also unfolding, as Edwina Mountbatten and Jawaharlal Nehru began a passionate love affair. Their romance developed alongside Cold War conspiracies, the beginning of a terrible conflict in Kashmir, and an epic sweep of events that saw one million people killed and ten million dispossessed.
Steeped in the private papers and reflections of the participants, Indian Summer reveals, in vivid, exhilarating detail, how the actions of a few extraordinary people changed the lives of millions and determined the fate of nations.
Tunzelmann takes an extremely complex time period and renders it understandable in a style that is lively, witty, controversial, irreverent and, above all else, highly readable. With glowing reviews from respected historians such as Sir Martin Gilbert, who describes it as "a true tour de force", Indian Summer is narrative history at its most compelling. (Reviewed by BookBrowse Review Team).
The Internet Review of Books - Jane Woodward Elioseff
This surprising history of modern India tells several stories in one: How, over centuries, ruthless profit-seeking by the British East India Company, aided by greed and rivalry among local rulers, caused the devolution of the vastly wealthy and religiously tolerant Mogul empire. How the 1947 partitioning of India by the British, and Palestine by the UN, got us into the current troubles in the Middle East. How, ironically, the UN came to be seen by the Islamic world as a creature of the United States ... Highly recommended for its readability, and for its maps, photographs, careful notes and index.
The Washington Post - Joanne Collings
For those who enjoy gossip about British royalty but also have a serious interest in history, Indian Summer, by Alex von Tunzelmann, will be welcome. It removes the veil from the colorful personalities and events behind India's independence and partition with Pakistan, exploring the eccentricities and peccadilloes of the subcontinent's last British rulers and first democratic leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru and Mohandas Gandhi…The author moves easily between these stories, as well as that of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the man who would lead Pakistan. She makes the connections and keeps track of every part of the story while moving it all forward. She has a wicked wit.
Houston Chronicle
Alex von Tunzelmann, a young Oxford-trained historian, personalizes the drama of British India's final days by focusing on the flawed giants who made it happen .... Put beside this lot, today's politicians are bland porridge indeed.
The Daily Mail UK) - Kate Chisholm
Von Tunzelmann tells one story of the end of Empire — that of the small clique who tried, and failed, to control the handover of power — but there are many others, adding pathos and depth of meaning to the drama of political events.
Daily Express (UK) - Christopher Silvester
There is not much in this book in the way of startling revelations but the prose is lucid and witty, and the pace of?the storytelling is sublimely judged, with just the right element of analysis and due attention given to the human foibles of the key players.
Tom Holland, author of Rubicon and Persian Fire
Alex von Tunzelmann is a wonderful historian, as learned as she is shrewd.
But she is also something more unexpected: a writer with a wit and an eye for character that Evelyn Waugh would surely have admired.
Lawrence James, author of The Middle Class: A History and Raj: The Making and Unmaking of British India
An engaging, controversial, very lively and, at times, refreshingly irreverent tour de force. Alex von Tunzelmann has written a dramatic story, laced with tragedy and farce, and done so very well; a remarkable debut.
Sir Martin Gilbert, author of The Somme Indian Summer is a true tour de force: absorbing in its detail and masterly in the broad sweep of its canvas.
Victoria Glendinning, author of Leonard Woolf
Indian Summer is outstandingly vivid and authoritative. Alex von Tunzelmann brings a lively new voice to narrative history-writing.
Recent Reader Reviews
Rated of 5
by Malwinder Reeves How can I carry on reading this one sided rubbish I love reading historical books and have read 100s.This must be the first book that after reading 7 pages, I am struggling . What a load of rubbish. Full of pre conceived notions..what research really took place. Opening prargraph " British... Read More
Rated of 5
by Michael Arnold Singapore innaccuracies The author claims that 60,000 Indian troops were surrendered by some 'Colonel Hunt' in 1942 without firing a shot. This is total twaddle. General Percival had only 37,000 Indian troops even when the Japs first landed in December 1941 and far less... Read More
Rated of 5
by Valerie Focus on personalities I actually thought this would be more specific on the mechanics/mapmaking of the partition, but it really focuses on the major players. The book added to my knowledge of the history of India & Pakistan, and changed my opinion of Gandhi and... Read More
Rated of 5
by Aamir INDIAN SUMMER A well written and easy to read book on the partition of India in 1947.
Although called ‘THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE END OF AN EMPIRE’ I wonder is there are any secrets revealed in the book. The books main theme is the interaction between... Read More
Rated of 5
by STEPHEN MATLOW Flirting with democracy A nice, light history of India and its struggle for independence as well as the rather strange personality of "Disaster Dick" Mountbatten. Edwina's relationship with Nehru is over played. A little bit would have been good, but page after page is... Read More
Rated of 5
by Franklin R. Rogers Indian Summer--Fact or Fiction? Indian Summer: Review
Indian Summer by Alex von Tunzelmann is a work of almost breathtaking scope, and it is well written and at times wickedly witty. But as the old saying goes all that glitters is not gold. From the very beginning with her... Read More
Indira Gandhi was the first
and only female Indian Prime
Minister to date. She
served three consecutive terms
from 1966 to 1977, and a fourth
term from 1980 to 1984. Many
people assume she is related to
Mahatma Gandhi (mahatma is
Sanskrit for great soul)
but in fact she is the daughter
of Jawaharlal Nehru,
India's first Prime Minister.
In 1937 Indira Nehru married
Feroze Ghandhy who, during the
1930s, started to spell his name
Gandhi - a small change which
would be of "inestimable value
to his wife's future career".
Louis Mountbattan, known as "Dickie",
a great-grandson of Queen
Victoria, was born into the
House of Battanburg in 1990,
making him...
Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, A Golden Age is a story of passion and revolution, of hope, faith and unexpected heroism. The first volume in a planned trilogy.
This autobiography of the world-renowned, visionary economist who came up with a simple but revolutionary solution to end world poverty - micro-credit.
These are 2 of the 7 readalike suggestions for Indian Summer. Members have full access to all readalikes. If you are a member, please login. To find out more about membership, click here.
Fearless, gripping, at once darkly funny and tender, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story set in today's globalized world.
The story of an American family, middle class in middle America, ordinary in every way but one. But that exception is the beating heart of this extraordinary novel.
First time novelist Vaddey Ratner captured my heart and senses in this novel based on her childhood in Cambodia. Her story transcends any news story...
read more
From the first page, I was drawn in by the lyrical writing of the author and mesmerized as the narrator, eight year old Raami, remembered the years...
read more
Trite but true, all good things must come to an end. I so wanted to keep reading the wonderful prose, the settings that let one think they are part...
read more
Kenn Nesbitt is new Children's Poet Laureate(Jun 12 2013) Kenn Nesbitt has been named the new Children's Poet Laureate: Consultant in Children's Poetry to the Poetry Foundation, which noted that the two-year position...
Full Story
BookBrowse
(1043 words).
The Daily Mail UK) - Kate Chisholm
Tom Holland, author of Rubicon and Persian Fire
of 5
by Malwinder Reeves
of 5
by Michael Arnold
of 5
by Valerie
of 5
by Aamir
of 5
by Franklin R. Rogers
Write your own review!
