Glimpses of World History [Paperback]

Jawaharlal Nehru (Author), Indira Gandhi (Foreword)

Book Description

This is the text of Nehru's history of the world, which was written in the form of letters from prison to his daughter. It offers fascinating insight into the mind and principles of one of India's greatest leaders.

Product Details

• Paperback: 1032 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (January 11, 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195623606
• ISBN-13: 978-0195623604
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,297,459 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The other side of history, March 3, 2002

By 

Robin Koshy (Suva, Fiji) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Glimpses of World History (Paperback)

A brilliant intellectual pursuit that gives a glimpse of Nehru's intellect, comprehension and culture. In the myriad of Western opinions of human progress, 'discoveries' and colonialism, Nehru's Glimpses stand out for its bold 'other view' of history as well as generous and magnanimous acknowledgement of the merits of every civilisation. To have the 'Glimpses' lost on one, as a mere rambling collection of letters would be tragic. To appreciate the 'Glimpses' one must understand the context in which it was written. It was not meant as an exercise to outline history for the world with the global audience in mind. It was merely a father's restricted dialogue with a daughter outside the prison walls with the intention of instilling pride in her culture and history. And maybe, as an inspiration to India's freedom fighters to stand up against the might of a hegemonic empire and its propaganda on history and civilisation. While the bleakness of his and the Colonial India's circumstances colour his opinions slightly, it does not blind him to historical realities.
That a book with such a narrow, domestic agenda subsequently appealed to the wider audience internationally is probably the finest testament of Nehru's brilliance.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece, June 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Glimpses of World History (Paperback)

A very concise yet informative survey of world history from the antiquity. This book touches almost everything important in history. Could be used both for recreational reading and also as a primer in world history for a university/school course. The only flaw in the book is that it stops abruptly in 1932. No fault of Mr Nehru, though. I guess someone should work on this book and bring it up to date.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History by a history maker., March 15, 2004

By 

"kaysov" (Chennai, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Glimpses of World History (Paperback)

Nehru himself calls the book as "Ramblings", given the background that book is a compilation of a whole bunch(196) of lengthy letters to his daughter, Indira Priyadarshini, during his stay in various goals across British Raj (which made him rely on memory than references). His main aim was to introduce his lovely daughter to the world but NOT to be a historian. He starts from the pre-Indus Valley civilization days and ends just before the dawn of WW II in this 971-page book. The book, apart from being journal of events in history, talks about opinions of Nehru on various events with more weightage to his favorite ones.

The book with Nehru's democratic spirit, his scietific and rational approach, his masterly narration with a poetic temper and his control over the language make the book immensely readable.