India Unveiled (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Arnett's photographic diary of a multiyear pilgrimage through India emphasizes the country's diverse religious traditions. LJ's reviewer recommended this stunning work for all collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

India Unveiled by Robert Arnett is a hart-warming portrait of the people, landscape and multi-hued culture of India. India Unveiled is one of the most insightful and revealing compendiums written on India in decades. Arnett has captured for posterity the very essence of India as the oldest continuously surviving civilization on earth. The twenty-five states of India are organized by regions into six chapters, each with a distinctive map. 268 photographs and seven maps (all beautifully reproduced in full color on acid-free paper) further enhance the value and beauty of this magnificent volume. Perfect for browsing through by the armchair traveler, yet informative and engaging for any serious student of the culture of the subcontinent, India Unveiled is a highly recommend acquisition for all academic and community library collections. -- Midwest Book Review

Robert Arnett's India Unveiled is obviously a labor of love - a love for the people, the cities, and the traditions of a country that is as fascinating as it is mysterious. India, to American minds, means religious mystics and beautiful dark-eyed women in iridescent saris. It means crumbling ancient gardens and cities swarming with people. Robert Arnett's work captures all of these facets of India and more. It presents the reader with pictures and experiences of each Indian state; all the while searching for the greater meaning buried within the country. This melange of travelogue, photo-journal, and history lesson makes for engaging reading, as well as a festival for the eye. The book is well constructed, dividing the country into six distinct sections. Each section includes a map at the start and is further broken down by headings of cities or other locales. This format allows the reader to navigate the country with ease. The writing style of the work gives the reader an in-depth look at the history of each area, its geography and people, and focuses on details that are not common knowledge among tourists. Because of its large, coffee-table format, Arnett's book is not one that the reader will be able to tuck into her pocket for the journey. This is unfortunate, since India Unveiled gives much information about the tricks and trials of travel in out of the way towns and villages. In this respect, Arnett educates as well as entertains. His personal experiences also reveal a devotion to the people of this country and an appreciation of their ways of life that is rare in travel writing. This, combined with the historical detail of his work, gives the reader quite a complete picture of Indian life and culture. The lush photography immediately makes the large format of the book a necessity. The sacrifice of portable information is a small one to pay for the beauty of Arnett's photos. India comes alive on these pages. The words are descriptive, but the photographs speak volumes about Arnett's fascination with people, culture, and location. A photograph of jute workers in the fields sits opposite the palatial Victoria Memorial, and we understand the depth of diverse experience which is India. Yogis and sandscapes, temples and schoolgirls, palaces, paintings, and prayer flags keep the reader turning the pages, looking to the next photo to expand upon the images of the previous ones. We are not disappointed. The images compose as much of a journal as the words. Arnett, in his Author's Notes says, "This book is a tribute to the traditional values of India." It is a tribute to much more. It is a tribute to the people, the art and the stunning beauty of an entire country. -- From Independent Publisher

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Atman Press (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965290077
• ISBN-13: 978-0965290074
• Product Dimensions: 12.5 x 9.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,168,776 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming, captures the essence, April 28, 2000

By	"viraga" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: India Unveiled (Hardcover)

This book must be read by anybody who has an interest in India, whether they are Indians or non-Indians. I recommend that anybody who plans on visiting India also read this book. The typical tourist book gives practical information on what to see and where to stay and what to wear. But it won't give you an insight into the land, its people and its culture. And if you do not get that, you haven't got the most from your trip. This book will prepare you for the discovery of India. The photographs are marvellous, a visual delight.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Superlative, February 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: India Unveiled (Hardcover)

Besides being both captivating as a narrative and travel photography book, Robert Arnett expresses understanding of India that is rare in an Indian, let alone a foreign traveller to the country. Mr. Arnett is well versed in the social and religious aspects of India that distinguish it from other countries of the world.

Interestingly, "India Unveiled" is the only book accepted by the Indian Government to be placed in all Indian embassies that is written by a foreigner.

After having met Mr. Arnett personally, I am not surprised to see his dedication to his labor of love in the form of simple book sales. He tours and lectures, however only accepts money for the sale of his books, personally handling all aspects of their editing, layout, publishing, distribution, marketing, and sale. His response to my query about managing all of these tasks was, "I love India."

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, September 23, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: India Unveiled (Hardcover)

This book has won a number of awards including the best armchair traveler book of the year award. It stands out from the league of similar books and comes straight from the author's heart. Rightly acclaimed as one of the most insightful and revealing books about the country, it emphasizes diverse religious traditions and spirituality of India. This honest book easily impresses the reader with captivating vivid narrative peppered with delightful pictures. Organized by six broad regions, it is not meant to be a tome on India but a catalyst that propels the readers towards discovering it. It evokes nostalgic heartwarming feeling for those who have been to India and generates genuine interest among the would-be tourists. Though no one can claim to have captured the vastness, diversity and contradictions of Indian culture in one book, this fascinating volume comes pretty close. In the latest edition of the book, author has updated the text and pictures and done away with some redundant text. A must buy for anyone traveling to India or just having interest in it- Indians and non-Indians alike (This review has been taken from Recipedelights.com)