Wanted to read a book on Delhi and reviews pointed me to Mr. Dalrymple. One part of me (driven by feedback I also received from someone) was whether I need someone who’s not Indian to tell me about the city I live in. The second part said why not hear what could be an outsider’s perspective, and am happy I read the book. The outsider knows the inside a lot better than I do, and also knows how to pen down his thoughts.

A lot of credit to William to have spent the time and effort to cover the very long history of the city. He’s covered the Mughal era in detail mainly Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb but also done enough to cover the Tuqhlaq dynasty, elements of 1947 and 1985 when the city probably faced the most turbulence in the modern era. He’s ended with going back to Mahabharata times and in a way opining on the authenticity of the epic itself (though he seems to use a proxy there of another historian/ archaeologist).

Was fun to read about different parts of Delhi from the Red Fort to Humayun’s Tomb; from Tughlakabad to Raisina Hills. He’s even covered elements of British rule and reminds the readers that the Peacock Throne and Kohinoor were just examples of our heritage and wealth than still adorn museums in England. One aspect I have to specifically compliment is that the writing has been very smooth and never was it a difficult read or a boring one.

The only element I would have loved is maybe a sense of chronology but then maybe it would then read as a history book and not as the travelogue (if I can call it so) of Mr. Dalrymple in his twelve months in the city.