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Books/films set in pre-Raj India (1800's-1860's)

Books/films set in pre-Raj India (1800's-1860's)

Old Jun 28th, 2014, 01:02 PM
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Books/films set in pre-Raj India (1800's-1860's)

Hi, Fodorites. Does anyone know of any books or films set in India in the early 19th century? I'm hoping to get a better understanding of that period in history. Would appreciate any thoughts on the matter. Thanks in advance!
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 01:06 PM
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Many of John Master's books. But why read novels when you could read actual history, which you can easily find by going to Amazon or B&N and searching on "indian history".
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 02:22 PM
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Yes, nonfiction is fine, too. I should be more specific, perhaps. 1850-1857 is the period I want to get a better sense of. Another fodorite mentioned starting with the rebellion of 1857, which will help.
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 02:34 PM
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Also, I should state I'm looking more for a "dip" into the history to get me started, so that's why I mentioned films. The first thought I had was E.M. Forster's "A Passage through India," but we're into the Raj.
Though I am interested in the British in India, specifically. I'll take a look at John Masters and see if he wrote of the years I'm interested in.
Thanks for the name!
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 04:46 PM
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The Seige of Krishnapur by J.G. Farrell is a fictionalized account of the Rebellion. Won the Booker Prize in 1973.

Kipling's Kim is set later in the 19C, but is a wonderful account of the Great Game conflict and how the Russian and British interacted with the local culture.
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 05:21 PM
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If you are just interested in the Indian Mutiny/First War of Independence the relevant Masters' novel is "Nightrunners of Bengal". I would strongly suggest that you need to read considerably outside 1850-7 for context, as your thread title indicates.

Masters was an officer in the (British) Indian army prior to and during WWII.
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Old Jun 28th, 2014, 06:08 PM
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Thanks so much, marmot and thursdaysd! I'm spoiled for choice, now. These two books sound great.
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