Indian Summer: The Secret History of the End of an Empire

By Alex von Tunzelmann

The stroke of midnight on 15 August 1947 liberated 400 million Indians from the British Empire. One of the defining moments of world history had been brought about by a tiny number of people, including Jawaharlal Nehru, the fiery prime minister-to-be; Gandhi, the mystical figure who enthralled a nation; and Louis and Edwina Mountbatten, the glamorous but unlikely couple who had been dispatched to get Britain out of India without delay. Within hours of the midnight chimes, however, the two new nations of India and Pakistan would descend into anarchy and terror.

INDIAN SUMMERdepicts the epic sweep of events that ripped apart the greatest empire the world has ever seen, and reveals the secrets of the most powerful players on the world stage: the Cold War conspiracies, the private deals, and the intense and clandestine love affair between the wife of the last viceroy and the first prime minister of free India. With wit, insight and a sharp eye for detail, Alex von Tunzelmann relates how a handful of people changed the world for ever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Oct 25, 2012
• ISBN: 9781471114762

Alex von Tunzelmann

Alex von Tunzelmann lives in London. She read history at University College, Oxford, and afterwards worked as a researcher on books for authors including Jeremy Paxman, Felicity Lawrence, John Kay and Alison Wolf. Her first book, Indian Summer, was published by Simon & Schuster in 2007. 

Reviews for Indian Summer

[mouldywarp_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have two books on this subject - one is turgid (almost unreadable) but this one is easy to read and very well written.

[Rosalin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author seems tilted towards the Mountbatten's and trying to justify their actions and so that of JL Nehru. Albiet, a good read and some great information about the dynamics in Indian subcontinent around that time. Sardar Patel was not in his good books!!! Alex von has done a fantastic job in giving reference to many other literatures. Overall a Good read.

[eoin-311239 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not so secret, but the history is my favorite kind: broad-stroke politics viewed from the actual lives of participants. Beautifully written.

[raviwagh22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

good

[dsksen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very well written book on the gripping events marking the creation of India!

[LuisaPimentaMatos · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating reading. History made, plus a bit of a view into the protagonists private lives.

[rajivc_18 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Alex writes well. The style is taut, and the book reads well. At times, it can almost read like a thriller. She has done a good job of writing about the events of the times. It was a very complex period in India's history, one where truths will be very difficult to analyse. She seems to be clearly fascinated by Nehru and the Mountbatten's. On the other side, she does not seem to be an admirer of Jinnah or Gandhi. This shows. What is missing from the book, is the analysis of how Jinnah went from being a champion of Hindu-Muslim unity to the Champion of Pakistan. He does seem to have been more sinned against than the sinner. What slips through, unintentionally, is how the ambitions of the various leaders lead to one of the most bloody events in world history. She dwells a lot on the actions of Nehru and Edwina post the events. She does not dwell so much on how much they contributed to this. Certainly, as per her, the relationship between Nehru and Edwina seems to have caused damage to any prospect of India staying as one country. This may have been unintentional, but this is what came through to me.You can't change history, however. It is done.

[paperdust · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With one of the best opening paragraphs ever, this book deals with the history, politics and play between Britain & India. I knew little about Indian independence before reading this book. It offers interesting (albeit romantic) introductions into the backgrounds and relationships between the key players - Gandhi, Nehru, Jinnah and the Moutbattens. The author then whips up the tension during those delicate moments leading up to Britain's departure and the doomed carving up of India & Pakistan. The reading got a little heavy for me in part two; I was confused as to who's fighting whom among the Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs. (Who's on whose side? Who defected?...) Will revisit.