Customer Reviews

I Shall Not Hear the Nightingale.

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Khushwant Singh's genius is in plain view. This is a story of a Sikh family in the days before India's independence. The father is a minor official, a loyal servant of the British. The son is a hot blooded young revolutionary, but emotionally still a child. I Shall Not Hear The Nightingale gives the reader a window into the world of this family caught up in changing times and the turmoil they endure. It is a unique look at the relationship of the British masters with those Indians who were loyal to them, at the unravelling of that relationship, and at the heartbreaking devastation it brought to the families of Punjab.

This book is a must read for those interested in Indian history, culture, and psyche. All Britishers, Indians and Pakistanis should read it, as should students of the social impact of decolonization.

Like Train to Pakistan, this book explores a side of Indias history that was very very painful. It is a towering achievement in storytelling, and is a compulsively readable book. Khushwant Singh is a well known Delhi based journalist who views India with an unflinching eye, and populates his stories with utterly believable characters and situations.There is much tragedy, and much humour throughout the book. Do not be surprised if you shed a tear reading this one.