Dalrymple's work is on the surface an easy read, but it contains a wealth of knowedge that his eye uncovers from where he goes and who he speaks to. A very humane portrait of a country that he has earlier written about with genuine affection, that is, if one can feel affection for a country as much as for a person. Both he and Mark Tully write about India with feeling, though in seemingly disparate ways.

Liked reading it. Travel goods are something that I love and WD is a great exponent of that genre. Explores a thought captivating idea and how the train of thought plays through different places

The author darymple.. a British nurtured by India was at times was found mocking our beliefs, kings and queens and gods in a subtle but yet direct way.. as he had mocked the existence of our gods(Hanumanji and Goddess Meenakshi) in our life...i wish he would do the same with Christ and Mohammed as well ...then let's see how ppl react. He mentions about the lost mughal and European architecture but has never once mentioned about the glory of INDIA before mughals and British....
However he cov...

Age of Kali is India at its depressing best? Its an easy read, though while I liked the narrative style, a lot of information was gathered by interviewing people and I personally felt something was lost on the way. Done with the negatives, I enjoyed reading AOK, its an insightful read into India's cultural and complex history. So much to know and see in this country of contradictions, I am so surprised this wasnt written earlier. Engaging and a must read for travel fanatics.

One of the best contemporary books i have had the fortune to pick up. The author is a true blue journalist and each chapter is better than the next. Shows India in all its past glory and the present decline of the Indian society. The portions about Bihar and the caste system is particularly bold and unfortunately true to the core. The sections about sobha de and the tamil tigers are engrossing. A difficult book to put down once started on.

This is my first book by the Author. I am amazed with the indianness with which he writes. I can feel the pain and disgust an India would feel, if he witnesses what the author witnessed.

Certain parts of the book are dated, so it should be read keeping in mind that period. Saying that, it is a very neutral yet touching narration of the current state of decadence of India- The country neglected by its own people.

Good

If you read the book thoroughly, it is bound to make you intensely emotional in places especially where it describes once Royal but now decrepit Lucknow

a treat for dalrymple fans or an eye opener for india?I think both.But the book didnt cover only india,but the younger and more naughty brothers too(sri lanka and pakistan). Laloo,Mulayam,LTTE,Benazir Bhutto or Imran Khan,all are here.A must read.

The book gives a candid picture of sub- continet specially riot torn Pakistan and war torn Srilanka - the best part of this book is the way history is being told.Although the cover is a horrific mistake & I pointed this out to William Dalrymple himself when he came to Calcutta in 2009.The Age of Kali has nothing to do with Hindu God Kali - here Kali means the kalyug which is wronly understood by publishers - more to that in the name of Kali they have printed idol of Shani a god worshipped in ...