A New History of India [Paperback]

Stanley Wolpert (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 25, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0195166787 | ISBN-13: 978-0195166781 | Edition: 7

After more than twenty-five years in print, A New History of India continues to be the most accessible and popular one-volume history of India available. Stanley Wolpert has condensed more than 4,000 years of India's history into a graceful and engaging text. He discusses modern India's rapidly growing population, industry, and economy, and also considers the prospects for India's future. Wolpert strives to record India's history fairly and truthfully, portraying the brightest achievements of Indian civilization as well as its persistent social inequities and its economic and political corruption. Now entirely redesigned, A New History of India, 7/e, includes photographs for the first time, a full-color map of India and the surrounding area, updated bibliographic material, and a revised final chapter reflecting the significant social, political, and economic issues that have arisen since the year 2000.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A serious fact-based study that presents excellent detail with remarkable readability--the way history should be written, but rarely is."--Michael Rubin, Yale University

"An authoritative, comprehensive, and well-written undergraduate text on the entire scope of India's rich history. . . . Admirable in every respect."--Marshall E. Nunn, Glendale Community College

"Without a doubt, the best text for survey courses in the history of India."--David M. Laushey, Georgia State University

"This is the best introductory survey of Indian history that I know of."--John McLeod, University of Louisville

About the Author

Stanley Wolpert is at University of California, Los Angeles (Emeritus).

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 7 edition (December 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195166787
• ISBN-13: 978-0195166781
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,468,192 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well documented work on a complex land and culture June 3, 2001

By Alok Chakrabarti

Format:Paperback

Stanley Wolpert devoted to the study of the history of the Indian sub continent has produced a remarkable book on India. If you have just enough time to read only one book on India, I will definitely recommend this one.

The history and the pluralistic culture of India are indeed complex. Wolpert provides a panoramic view of the development of Indian culture that has been formed through amalgamation and mixing of many cultures, races and religions. And he has done quite well. I am also very impressed with the fact that he has not adopted the usual western paternalistic attitudes towards his subject.

Wolpert's book should be read not only by the historians, but also people in the field of business, particularly those gurus of globalization who chaff at the slow pace of changes in countries like India. Wolpert provides a well-documented story of the plunder and subjugation of the Indians carried out in the name of international trade. After all East India Company was just another multinational company. To save the interests of the Company and its members the British government had to take over India.

But one can't blame the British for the take over. The late eighteen century saw India as a divided nation, various factions based on religion, caste and regional roots made it ripe for foreign invasions. What happened in India also linked to the wider scene in other part of the world. Lord Cornwallis who suffered a humiliating defeat in New York, appeared in India as the powerful general and did all he could to establish his might. Fights among the different kings in Europe had direct bearing on their fights in India.

To his credit, Wolpert has carried his story right up to the present time and made a heroic attempt to portray the current happenings in simplified ways. I however, detect a pro- American bias in this part of his book. The Nobel Peace Prize Winner Kisinger had a role in pushing the India- Pakistan war leading to the creation Bangladesh, but that was glossed over. Instead, Wolpert portrays Indira Gandhi choosing Russia over the western alliance and thus deviating from her father's policy of non-alignment. As a person who lived in the USA during the Nixon, I vividly remember how this Metternich of the US nudged the sub continent to war.

In any case, Wolpert has produced a very good book free from ideological preaching. It is a good book to read and have.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal Introduction January 3, 2003

By David Casey

Format:Paperback

I am not sure how a serious student of Indian history would rate this book but for me as a novice it was ideal. It is very concise yet quite readable which is a great feat for any survey style book. I picked it up because I was curious to know more about India of antiquity after reading about Alexander the Great's war with king Porus. Not only I filled in those gaps but learned a great deal more because the book turned out to be fun to read. It covers everything from the most ancient times of pre Indo-European Harpalla and the city of the dead to Ghandi. I recommend to any novice who just wants to quickly learn essential facts of Indian history.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating March 28, 2003

By natron

Format:Paperback

The different empires that ruled and the different religions and their influences were explored in some detail in this book. The early civilizations, the Deli Sultanate, the Mogul Empire, the British Empire, and the breakup were all described. Also interesting was the rather detailed analysis of current politics and political intrigue within India, but it did go on a bit too much. And the recent modernizations combined with the dramatic story of Gandhi, and the many leaders in India after him that tried to rule such a divided land made for an engaging story. Learning about Kashmir was important, and the several wars fought between India and Pakistan. Also the pact between the USSR and India at the same time as the cooperation with the USA during the Cold War was interesting and pragmatic. Finally, following the way India has gone from desiring to be self-sufficient to a more open and market economy, and the dramatic effects this process has had on the nation was absolutely fascinating. Overall I learned to appreciate the extreme diversity, pride, and richness of Indian history and culture. But the book's one lacking factor was giving a personal feel to the Indian culture. It inspires me to read more on the culture and religion of India, as this history seemed more political in its orientation.