5.0 out of 5 stars Great condition

C.Q. · 28 April 2025

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5.0 out of 5 stars Allow yourself to be transported back to 18th Century India

A.J.S. · 12 March 2018

Having previously read The Last Mughal, this raised my expectations from William Dalrymple, and White Mughals certainly did not disappoint.While the book mainly focuses on the tragic romance between James Achilles Kirkpatrick and Khair Un Nissa, the former being a White Mughal (a European adapted to Indian culture) the book does provide, at least in its opening paragraph, a panorama of Europeans who "went native" and adapted to Indian ways, converting mainly to Islam, though in a few cases, Hinduism.Through the course of the book, we learn that this was not unusual in the 18th and early 19th centuries, though it became much less prevalent as the arrogance of British colonial rule increased from the mid 19th century onward, culminating in the war of 1857.While the opening chapter may be a panorama of European-Indian interactions, and the subsequent chapters a retelling of the relationship and fortunes of Kirkpatrick and Khair Un Nissa, Dalrymple is highly descriptive, and the insights (one must read the footnotes for the whole picture) coupled with Dalrymple's prose elegance, help transport the reader back to Georgian era British India, creating a sense of sentimental attachment that is rarely found in non-fiction.A problem is that the characters do seem somewhat distant to the reader, in a sense that would not be found in a fictional novel, however, this is non-fiction and relies on documentary evidence, in this case letters, of which direct citations are often used.If one approaches this expecting a Pride & Prejudice like novel, they may be disappointed, however, if one comes to this book with no pre-conceived expectations and simply allows Dalrymple to transport them back to early British India, then they will not be disappointed.In all a unique work, both a factual work of historical biography, a panorama of 18th Century India, a touching love affair, and ultimately, a plea for understanding between cultures, showing that civilizations do not always clash, rather, they merge.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very readable history

V.S. · 11 October 2007

This is a well researched book, it took Dalrymple just over 4 years and addresses a history of British India you won't find elsewhere, the integration of British and other European settlers into India and how they inter-married, converted to Islam, etcAll these things are now conveniently forgotton in the events that followed where the Victorian imperial prejudices are now thought of as having existed from the beginning. Dalrymple shows that this is not so and far more integration and mingling happened in the early years.The book itself follows the relationship of, James Kirkpatrick, the British resident in Hyderabad in detail and combines it with the background and history of other characters and events relevant to the story. I found the style worked well but could sometimes be too much of a tangent to the main story especially if you're already familiar with the history.I'd recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Indian history or the life of officers of the Honourable East India Company.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book !

A. · 13 June 2025

Great book 📖

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and delicately written

S.l.t.f.3.s.s.F.n.r.g.a.c.r.e.v.t.t.r.I.p.s.t.i.n.t.i.l.i.t.p.A.c.i.b.a.s.g. · 18 April 2024

Its been wonderful to be able to imagine the scenes from the book and part of a personal journey for me, great read of a largely hidden part of history. Love it

5.0 out of 5 stars A good, satisfying read

R.C. · 19 November 2013

This is the (true) story of James Kirkpatrick, who worked in India for the British East India Company. He seems to have liked the local culture, and assimilated to it to a large extent. This was before the evangelical influence grew stronger, and banned that sort of thing. On page 152, beautiful young Khair un-Nissa enters his life. There are quite a lot of other characters who are mentioned incidentally, about whom I would lke books to be written, too. Very often, these characters took advantage of the different cultural climate in India to marry local women. Sometimes more than one!White Mugals is a work of Shakespearian breadth, interesting characters whom you get to know quite well, romance, drama, and--ultimately--tragedy. There is a sequel to this work, called The Last Mughal

3.0 out of 5 stars allright

M.B. · 8 December 2014

This book zooms in on the life of James Kilpatrick, the British 'resident' at the court of the Nizam of Hyderabad around 1800. Dalrymple's thesis is that before things were spoilt in the early years of the 19th century, the British in 'India' were enjoying good relationships with the local population, including intimate relationships. Sadly, a bunch of narrow-minded proto-Victorian imperialists-avant-la-lettre managed to destroy the idyll by making life miserable for people like Kilpatrick who were involved in mixed race relationships - or for the fruits of those relationships (the East India Company actually stopped hiring mixed race people altogether).Is this a good book? Well, it is certainly interesting and colorfully written - albeit too bulky at 500 pages. I think it would have been better had Dalrymple expanded much less on very difficult to follow family backgrounds of the various players (maybe it's just me, but with those names it all got tangled up in my head), and a bit more on great contemporary events such as the wars against Tipu Sultan ('the tiger of Mysore') & against the Marathas. All things considered, this is still a book that many people will greatly enjoy; for me it was just a bit too long-winded.

Dull as ditchwater

k. · 7 June 2005

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } I bought this book mainly since I planned to visit India and Bolo.uk readers simply raved about this book consistently giving it 5 star reviews. Its not a bad book exactly. Its thoroughly researched and the author discovered an amazing little known story about the romance between the East India Company's governor in Hyderabad, James Kirkpatrick and the beautiful Indian noblewoman Khair un-Nissa. Unfortunately the author gets rather carried away with his scholarship resulting in the book running to over 500 pages of dry, overdetailed and repetitive prose. Not recommended until you have a thing for historical footnotes

Dalrymple is the present age true White Mughal

J. · 9 July 2024

White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India by William Dalrymple is a captivating and meticulously researched narrative that explores the complex cultural interactions between British colonizers and Indian society during the 18th century.Historical ContextDalrymple focuses on the period when British officials and soldiers in India, known as "White Mughals," adopted Indian customs, languages, and even converted to Islam, forging intimate relationships with Indian women. This historical exploration challenges conventional narratives of British colonialism by highlighting the cultural exchange and hybrid identities that emerged in colonial India.Personal StoriesCentral to the book are the personal stories of individuals who defied social and cultural boundaries to form relationships across racial and religious divides. Dalrymple brings to life the romance between James Achilles Kirkpatrick, a British East India Company official, and Khair-un-Nissa, a Hyderabadi noblewoman, illustrating the complexities of love, loyalty, and identity in a colonial context.Cultural Exchange"White Mughals" examines how British attitudes towards Indian culture evolved during this period. Dalrymple explores the fascination with Indian art, music, and literature among British officials, as well as their integration into Indian society. This cultural exchange challenged existing hierarchies and stereotypes, offering a nuanced portrayal of colonial encounters.Societal ImpactThe book also delves into the broader social and political implications of interracial relationships in colonial India. Dalrymple discusses the tensions and conflicts that arose within both British and Indian communities, reflecting on issues of identity, power dynamics, and the legacy of colonialism. His analysis sheds light on the complexities of race, class, and gender in a multicultural society.Literary StyleDalrymple's prose is eloquent and evocative, blending historical scholarship with narrative storytelling. His vivid descriptions and detailed research bring the characters and settings to life, immersing readers in the vibrant cultural milieu of 18th-century India. The book is accessible to both academic audiences and general readers interested in history and cultural studies.White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India by William Dalrymple is a compelling exploration of cultural exchange, love, and identity in colonial India. Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Dalrymple brings to light the complexities of interracial relationships and the evolving attitudes towards cross-cultural encounters during the 18th century. The book is essential reading for anyone interested in the history of colonialism, cultural hybridity, and the interplay of identities in a multicultural world.

White Mughals William Dalrymple

v.a. · 12 June 2018

Encore une lecture occasionnée par une excellente émission de BBC4. Ce monde fascinant de l'Inde aux prises avec la lutte entre Français et Britanniques constitue le décor. Mais c'est surtout la saga familiale qui est fascinante.

Nice but Overpriced

F.S. · 5 July 2023

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

very good

A. · 31 March 2014

Book in excellent shape. Seller described it right and it was sent in time and without any flaw in the handling of the purchase! Thank you!