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An interesting and detailed historical account of the end of the British Empire in India (which included West Pakistan and East Pakistan or Bangladesh as we know it today) and the bloodbath that heralded Pakistan and India's independence in 1947. Louis "Dickie" Mountbatten and his wife Edwina's lives were intrinsically intertwined with the political upheaval. As Viceroy of India and then Governor General, Dickie worked front and center on behalf of the British government - as negotiator, facilit
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Alex Von Tunzelman knows how to write narrative history that’s rigorously researched and detailed but with enough editorial skill so as not to overwhelm the non-specialist reader. From what I’d heard about the book prior to reading it I expected more sensationalism than I actually found. The Nehru-Edwina-Mountbatten affair is dwelt on in detail but this detail is gleaned from historical records, making it difficult to find anything sexually scandalous in it. The fact that the Mountbattens were a
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This book was a bit heavy going at times, but overall I enjoyed it and thought it was well done. The author was a bit overly enamored w/ Edwina Mountbatton's hussy behavior, but it was interesting to learn about Gandhi and Nehru a bit as people instead of just historical figures. Learning about the gyrations that took place leading up to Partition and the repercussions that followed was really fascinating.
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