Strangers in the land : the rise and decline of the British Indian Empire /

This is a great read. Cavaliero was deputy director-general of the British Council, and as a writer and historian he has produced such books as The Last of the Crusaders (CH, Apr'64), The Independence of Brazil (CH, Jun'94), and Admiral Satan (1994). His experiences in India inspired him to pen this well-researched general survey containing fine illustrations, maps, notes, a bibliography, and a glossary. The strength of the book is the vivacity of the writing and the speed with which the narrative carries readers through the colorful span of the British Raj. It is ideal for those encountering modern South Asian history for the first time. Scholars preparing lectures can appreciate the picturesque portraits of such figures as Lytton "floating loosely about in wide pantaloons and flying skirts," or Gandhi, for whom "Truth and God were synonymous." Specialists in a particular era will take issue with some of Cavaliero's comments, such as his statement that "Wavell had a lurking sympathy for the idea of Jinnah's Muslim state," but the conclusions are mostly sound and the book is a joy to read through or dip into. All general and academic collections. R. D. Long Eastern Michigan University