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The Anarchy

The Relentless Rise of the East India Company

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The Anarchy

Written by: William Dalrymple
Narrated by: Sid Sagar
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents The Anarchy by William Dalrymple, read by Sid Sagar.

THE TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2019
THE TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
FINALIST FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE 2020
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2019
A FINANCIAL TIMES, OBSERVER, DAILY TELEGRAPH, WALL STREET JOURNAL AND TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘Dalrymple is a superb historian with a visceral understanding of India … A book of beauty’ – Gerard DeGroot, The Times

In August 1765 the East India Company defeated the young Mughal emperor and forced him to establish a new administration in his richest provinces. Run by English merchants who collected taxes using a ruthless private army, this new regime saw the East India Company transform itself from an international trading corporation into something much more unusual: an aggressive colonial power in the guise of a multinational business.

William Dalrymple tells the remarkable story of the East India Company as it has never been told before, unfolding a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power.

©2019 William Dalrymple (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 18th Century Asia Colonialism & Post-Colonialism India Military Modern Politics & Government South Asia Wars & Conflicts
All stars
Most relevant
William Dalrymple delivers yet again. His ability to weave sub plots together and bring history alive remains unequalled.

A very important book for every Indian who thinks that the British were the best thing to happen to India.

Powerful, evocative, unsettling - do give it a listen

Sid Sagar, who delivers it to us should have acquainted himself with Indian names before embarking on this project. The pathetic rendition of the names is the biggest blemish of the audio book.

A brilliant book covering a massive canvas

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My first William Dalrymple. Went into a time machine. Such a brilliantly researched book. A must read.

A Lucid Narrative of British East India Company.

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I love William Dalrymple and I also love the narrator brilliant work brilliant insightful so well researched

Great

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William Darlymple has done absolute justice to the topic of the book by not getting into taking to popular narratives and presented a well researched factual account, so it seems and so I believe from the style and coverage of the contents. This is a good read especially after plethora of Books written to eulogize Brit occupation of India and underplaying the brutal sufferings inflected upon Indian populace, leaders, kings and freedom fighters. it also presents in an absorbing manner the wealth, strength and weaknesses of very many indian kings of those times from Moghuls to Marathas to Afghans and from south to north and east to west. This Book also creates a perceived impression that British Government wasn't responsible for the loot of India rather a corporation called EIC... but it fails to capture the imagination of Indians who firmly believe today that British Government played hands in gloves with EIC in looting India and enriching Britain and that at least in public Britain must apologise if not return the proceeds of loot. voice is good, narrative is excellent, coverage is interesting. a worth read.

A must reads for one keen in Indian modern history

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An English view point on part of Indian history

Overall I believe this was a good perspective on some of the details that history textbooks do not teach. At the same time I see few discussions on social media which point to done factual inaccuracies. Given the references quoted through the book I would expect them to be none unless there are known uncertainties about done events.
This book however gives a good perspective on how the chapter in Indian history on the introduction of the East India Company in India and its transition into the British Raj. The interplay of men, money and military is well captured. A small detail that I liked was the writing of the monies involved in all kinds of deals made in today's terms gives a good perspective on the size of these deals that we can compare. It in turn makes one, atleast from India, angry and sad at the same time.
Would I refer this book to someone? Yes I would. Probably will. However with the asterix indicating that one should take it with a pinch of salt and not believe each detail blindly. Do your own research before judging.

An English view point on part of Indian history

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