The Last Mughal: The Fall of a Dynasty: Delhi, 1857 (Vintage)

William Dalrymple has done it again and I thank my friend, Mairead, who first introduced me to his writing. This book describes in amazing detail the events leading up to, during and then following the Delhi uprising of 1857. Of all the books I have read by this author, this one has left me the most changed. Shattered. Written by one who loves India as we can sense from some of his other books, this one documents the bad decisions, arrogant attitudes and blind stupidity that set the stage for an uprising by people who had truly been "trashed" by Empire building individuals. The detail of this book is incredible and the references at the back of the book are massive in number. The personal details of those English who did and did not escape the traumas of the uprising are moving, in the extreme. As are the details of those who suffered as the British returned to punish all and sundry who happened to be in their way as they fought back to take Delhi and change it forever. One cannot read this book without holding a different view of "the Mother Country" which I have loved for decades, but now hold at a little more arms length! To think of where the wealth of the conqueror has come from is truly confronting and for the first time in my life I start to see the value of my own country moving to Republic status. The author does help salvage some respect for Justice and truth in those who were left or sent to mop up after the total bloodbath that was Britain's revenge for the uprising. Having visited India several times I can see positives that have been embraced from the time Britain spent as conquering rulers. This book has set me a goal of visiting Delhi with a friend of mine from India as I want to stand where thousands stood and were massacred as a result of bad government and strong ideological differences. COVID permitting that will be next year. This is not a book for the faint hearted. It is a book that will change you. It is a masterpiece.

Neither William Dalrymple nor 'The Last Mughal' need another positive review after all the prior accolades they have received. This 2006 work continues the amazing metamorphosis of a travel writer into a historian. The writing seems effortless, although a tremendous amount of research has been done. Perhaps this is partly due to the author's passion for the world of which he writes, but it also must be more than that. Greatness is sometimes easy to recognize and yet difficult to describe. The book tells of the last emperor at the time of the Indian rebellion of 1857. In the final days of the dynasty real power had been ceded to the British, but the emperor was allowed to remain as a figurehead. In preceding centuries the descendants of Islamic conquerors ruled partly by consensus, and a degree of religious freedom existed between Muslims and Hindus. The empire and its court were responsible for a great body of architecture and literature that flourished up to the time of its demise. Many earlier British settlers had adapted to local customs and culture, intermarrying and in some cases converting to Islam. In the mid 19th century a wave of Christian evangelism became prevalent, and efforts were made to promote the conversion of native religions. This culminated in a military rebellion when indigenous troops under British command were ordered to trespass religious taboos, such as traveling overseas, mixing castes and breaking dietary restrictions. The religious underpinnings of the rebellion were exacerbated by an untimely British decision to end the Mughal line of succession. The ensuing war was the greatest challenge to colonial power since the American Revolution and ultimately resulted in the transfer of East India Company rule to the British crown. After Shah Jafar was captured he was tried for aiding the rebellion, and exiled to live out his remaining years under house arrest in Rangoon, British Burma. This pivotal period of history is delivered in a scholarly but not overly academic manner. It only covers Delhi, the epicenter of the rebellion. Events in Lucknow and Kanpur must be read about elsewhere. The story is told through eyewitness accounts by British and Indian participants. Many of the sources are new, culled from rediscovered archives written in Farsi and Urdu. The research is greatly complemented by the superb storytelling abilities of the author.

I believe it was an accurate account of what happened with the Mughal empire. It was sad what happened to them, however I enjoyed reading the book. The description of the culture of the time and how Zafar himself was a poet and a sufi was a surprise to me. Overall it was an excellent book, well written and objective. It gave me an understanding of how the colonial culture had an influence on the education that is still used today in the sub continent. The historical books that I have read especially by the British have always been subjective making the Mughals look bad however this book changed my perspective.

William Dalrymple has done extensive research into the events that occurred through the time of British influence in India. In many instances, eye witness accounts obtained from the Indian archives which have never been published before. If you like Indian history this is a must read.

If I could award this book more than 5 stars, I would. Mr. Dalrymple has given us a meticulously researched, objective (in my opinion), brilliantly written and totally engrossing account of the circumstances and events leading up to the Indian Mutiny, a practically hour-by-hour report on the months of brutal fighting and the aftermath with all its far-reaching consequences. The reader is witness to unspeakable cruelty and terrible suffering on both sides, religious fanaticism, acts of betrayal and cowardice, superhuman efforts and heroism, vandalism, rape and plunder, too few acts of compassion and the twilight and end of the great Mughal Dynasty with its barbaric cruelties and incomparable art, architecture and court culture. An unforgettable book.

Nice book on subcontinent history. Overpricing is the only drawback.

Detailed and very readable