A History of India [Hardcover]

Peter Robb (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0333691288 | ISBN-13: 978-0333691281 | Publication Date: October 4, 2002 | Edition: 1st

A History of India explores the principal themes that unify Indian history and offers the reader a sophisticated and accessible view of India’s dynamics from ancient times, the Mughal Empire, and the British Raj through post-1947 India. The book examines Indian politics, religious beliefs, caste, environment, nationalism, colonialism, and gender, among other issues. It also discusses long-term economic development, the impact of global trade, and the origins of rural poverty. Peter Robb’s clear, fluent narrative explores the interplay between India’s empires, regions of rule, customs, and beliefs, and is an ideal starting point for those with an interest in India’s past and present.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...masterfully surveys the trends, issues, and movements that have resulted in modern India...Highly recommended."--D.C. Johnson, Choice
"...his book is accessible in new ways for even the lay Indian reader."--The Hindu (India)

"A superbly written history of India since ancient times . . . which achieves the rare feat of addressing social and economic issues . . . in a style which is detailed and erudite yet consistently acessible. A considerable achievement." --Crispin Bates, University of Edinburgh.

About the Author

Peter Robb is Professor of the History of India at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 340 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 1st edition (October 4, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0333691288
• ISBN-13: 978-0333691281
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,713,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Give Me Back My Money!, August 9, 2004

By 

gtester99 (Miami, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of India (Hardcover)

This book was so bad, so poorly written, and so rote (even comical) in its recitation of dry fact that I feel compelled to write also to the (somewhat favorable) editorial reviewers cited above to find out just what drugs they were on. There is an utter disconnect between the mind-numbing recitation of fact and any attempt on the author's part to offer an expert's unique point of view. Argument could be made that India's vibrant history is one of the most vivid and lively subjects one could possibly choose for a book. That the author has somehow turned that country's amazing tale into such a snorer is truly a towering achievement. This book couldn't even be of interest to pure academics, except maybe as a (highly effective) sleeping aid. It's that dry. It's that bad.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An Embarrassment of Irrelevance, May 19, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: A History of India (Hardcover)

Robotic recitation of facts not brought to their natural conclusive effects is the worthless waste of paper this volume represents. Peter Robb should be made to reimburse everyone who had the misfortune of buying this snore.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars DON'T BUY THIS BOOK, April 30, 2004

By 

Anna M Parsons (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A History of India (Palgrave Essential Histories) (Paperback)

OK so I'm giving you a heads up. This book is the literary equivalent of watching paint dry. Wordy, dry, and sometimes ambiguous, Robb makes India's colorful heritage a monochromatic wasteland.