White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India Paperback - 2004
by William Dalrymple
This compelling history of Britain's rule over India relates the true story of James Kirkpatrick, who converted to Islam and spied on the East India Company in the midst of an affair with the great-niece of the region's prime minister. Photos.
Summary
White Mughals is the romantic and ultimately tragic tale of a passionate love affair that crossed and transcended all the cultural, religious and political boundaries of its time.
James Achilles Kirkpatrick was the British Resident at the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad when in 1798 he glimpsed Kahir un-Nissa—'Most excellent among Women'—the great-niece of the Nizam's Prime Minister and a descendant of the Prophet. Kirkpatrick had gone out to India as an ambitious soldier in the army of the East India Company, eager to make his name in the conquest and subjection of the subcontinent. Instead, he fell in love with Khair and overcame many obstacles to marry her—not least of which was the fact that she was locked away in purdah and engaged to a local nobleman. Eventually, while remaining Resident, Kirkpatrick converted to Islam, and according to Indian sources even became a double-agent working for the Hyderabadis against the East India Company.
It is a remarkable story, involving secret assignations, court intrigue, harem politics, religious and family disputes. But such things were not unknown; from the early sixteenth century, when the Inquisition banned the Portuguese in Goa from wearing the dhoti, to the eve of the Indian mutiny, the 'white Mughals' who wore local dress and adopted Indian ways were a source of embarrassments to successive colonial administrations. William Dalrymple unearths such colourful figures as 'Hindoo Stuart', who travelled with his own team of Brahmins to maintain his temple of idols, and who spent many years trying to persuade the memsahibs of Calcutta to adopt the sari; and Sir David Ochterlony, Kirkpatrick's counterpart in Delhi, who took all thirteen of his wives out for evening promenades, each on the back of their own elephant.
In White Mughals, William Dalrymple discovers a world almost entirely unexplored by history, and places at its centre a compelling tale of love, seduction and betrayal. It possesses all the sweep and resonance of a great nineteenth-century novel, set against a background of shifting alliances and the manoeuvring of the great powers, the mercantile ambitions of the British and the imperial dreams of Napoleon. White Mughals, the product of five years' writing and research, triumphantly confirms Dalrymple's reputation as one of the finest writers at work today.
First line
Colonel James Kirkpatrick ('The Handsome Colonel' 1729-1818): The raffish father of William, George and James Achilles.
Details
- Title White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
- Author William Dalrymple
- Binding Paperback
- Edition Reprint
- Pages 459
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Penguin Books, E Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.A.
- Date April 27, 2004
- Illustrated Yes
- Features Bibliography, Glossary, Index, Maps, Table of Contents
- ISBN 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Weight 1.65 lbs (0.75 kg)
- Dimensions 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 in (23.11 x 15.49 x 3.30 cm)
- Ages 18 to UP years
- Grade levels 13 - UP
-
Themes
- Chronological Period: 18th Century
- Chronological Period: 1800-1850
- Cultural Region: British
- Cultural Region: Indian
- Library of Congress subjects British - India, India - Race relations
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 2002191082
- Dewey Decimal Code 954.840
Media reviews
"Imaginitively conceived, beautifully written, intellectually challenging and a passionate love story—this is Dalrymple’s lifetime achievement and the best book he has ever written. He has done for India and the British what Edward Said did for the meeting between the West and Arab world in ‘Orientalism’. Despite its setting in the 18th century, this is a hugely important contemporary book. Dalrymple has broken new ground in the current debate about racism, colonialism and globalization. The history of the British in India will never be the same after this book." —Ahmed Rashid
"A gorgeous, spellbinding and important book... A tapestry of magnificent set pieces and a moving romance. William Dalrymple’s story of a colonial love affair will change our views about British India." —Miranda Seymour, Sunday Times
More Copies for Sale
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by Add Dalrymple, William
- Used
- Condition
- UsedAcceptable
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
- Item Price
-
$1.62$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by William Dalrymple
- Used
- Paperback
- first
- Condition
- Like New, slight wear to cover
- Edition
- First Penguin
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412x
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Barrington, Illinois, United States
- Item Price
-
$4.99$2.99Save $2.00!$5.29 shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by Dalrymple, William
- Used
- Condition
- UsedGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Skokie, Illinois, United States
- Item Price
-
$3.90$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by Dalrymple, William
- Used
- Condition
- UsedVeryGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Skokie, Illinois, United States
- Item Price
-
$3.90$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals - Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by Dalrymple, William
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good unmarked, scuffed wraps.
- Edition
- 8th printing
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412x
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Nevada City, California, United States
- Item Price
-
$4.00$4.95 shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
- Used
- Condition
- UsedGood
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Spokane, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$4.88$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by Dalrymple, William
- Used
- Acceptable
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Acceptable
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.15FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by Dalrymple, William
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.15FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by Dalrymple, William
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.15FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India
by William Dalrymple
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780142004128 / 014200412X
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$7.69FREE shipping to USA