Books on Delhi

sam371 · Jun 8th, 2006, 22:07

Hello fellow IMers,

There are a ton of books on Bombay - Maximum City, Shantaram. Does anyone know of similar books on Delhi? (Besides City of Djinns). If so, your recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

PeakXV · Jun 8th, 2006, 22:38

Delhi by Khushwant Singh is a must!

Jorge Reverter · Jun 8th, 2006, 23:05

Twilight in Delhi, by Ahmed Ali. Was very famous time ago but since the writer becames Pakistani after the partition..., life in Old Delhi is the main character of the book.

Last year I've reading the book and I've found it too mellow and
affected.

Jorge

PeakXV · Jun 10th, 2006, 07:29

The Golden Calm - An English Lady's life in Moghul Delhi by M.M. Kaye ( The Fars Pavillions) is a good read as well. Which follows the life (from family diaries) of Emily Metcalfe, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Metcalf, in the the years leading up to the war in 1857. Many architectural plates, which Metcalfe had commmissioned by Delhi artists are reproduced in the book.

I might add that the bibliography in City of Djinns is full of books on Delhi - even books that just mention it in passing. So if you are doing any research at all - this book is a good place to start it all.

Here are just a few from that selected bibliography:

R.E. Frykenberg(ed.) - Delhi Throught the Ages
Gordon Hearn, The Seven Cities of Delhi
H.E Fanshawe, Delhi Past and Present
Pavan K. Verma, Mansions at Dusk: The Havelis of Old Delhi

sezegnin · Jun 10th, 2006, 08:13

On the subject of books about Delhi, I love Neil Kelly's "Juggling with Tigers" (1995) which I quoted in another thread. Here's one of my favourite passages from it, when Kelly is trying to explain the reality of Delhi to a client who has just flown in from Hong Kong

"Nine million people. Land of the Kama Sutra. There must be some place where everyone goes in the wee hours?"

"Yes, there is. In fact thousands gather there from all over the world. And there's loads of cheap Western wine, liquor and beer."

"Great," he said rubbing his hands together. "What's it called?"

"Indira Gandhi International Airport."

sam371 · Jun 13th, 2006, 00:01

Thanks Everyone - I'll definitely check these out.

Jun 8th, 2006, 22:07	#1
sam371 Dreaming of India... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York Posts: 377	Books on Delhi Hello fellow IMers, There are a ton of books on Bombay - Maximum City, Shantaram. Does anyone know of similar books on Delhi? (Besides City of Djinns). If so, your recommendations are greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Jun 8th, 2006, 22:38	#2
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,511	*Delhi* by Khushwant Singh is a must! __________________ What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

Jun 10th, 2006, 08:13	#5
sezegnin Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Geneva Posts: 82	Neil Kelly On the subject of books about Delhi, I love Neil Kelly's "Juggling with Tigers" (1995) which I quoted in another thread. Here's one of my favourite passages from it, when Kelly is trying to explain the reality of Delhi to a client who has just flown in from Hong Kong "Nine million people. Land of the Kama Sutra. There must be some place where everyone goes in the wee hours?" "Yes, there is. In fact thousands gather there from all over the world. And there's loads of cheap Western wine, liquor and beer." "Great," he said rubbing his hands together. "What's it called?" "Indira Gandhi International Airport."

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Jun 8th, 2006, 23:05	#3
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,251	Twilight in Delhi, by Ahmed Ali. Was very famous time ago but since the writer becames Pakistani after the partition..., life in Old Delhi is the main character of the book. Last year I've reading the book and I've found it too mellow and affected. Jorge

Jun 10th, 2006, 07:29	#4
PeakXV Naan.tering Nabob Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Abode of Glooscap Posts: 4,511	The Golden Calm - An English Lady's life in Moghul Delhi by M.M. Kaye ( The Fars Pavillions) is a good read as well. Which follows the life (from family diaries) of Emily Metcalfe, eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Metcalf, in the the years leading up to the war in 1857. Many architectural plates, which Metcalfe had commmissioned by Delhi artists are reproduced in the book. I might add that the bibliography in City of Djinns is full of books on Delhi - even books that just mention it in passing. So if you are doing any research at all - this book is a good place to start it all. Here are just a few from that selected bibliography: R.E. Frykenberg(ed.) - Delhi Throught the Ages Gordon Hearn, The Seven Cities of Delhi H.E Fanshawe, Delhi Past and Present Pavan K. Verma, Mansions at Dusk: The Havelis of Old Delhi

Jun 13th, 2006, 00:01	#6
sam371 Dreaming of India... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York Posts: 377	Thanks Everyone - I'll definitely check these out.

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