The Anarchy cover art

The Anarchy

The Relentless Rise of the East India Company

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The Anarchy

By: William Dalrymple
Narrated by: Sid Sagar
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About this listen

Bloomsbury presents The Anarchy by William Dalrymple, read by Sid Sagar.

THE TOP 5 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
ONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2019
THE TIMES HISTORY BOOK OF THE YEAR
FINALIST FOR THE CUNDILL HISTORY PRIZE 2020
LONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2019
A FINANCIAL TIMES, OBSERVER, DAILY TELEGRAPH, WALL STREET JOURNAL AND TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR

‘Dalrymple is a superb historian with a visceral understanding of India … A book of beauty’ – Gerard DeGroot, The Times

In August 1765 the East India Company defeated the young Mughal emperor and forced him to establish a new administration in his richest provinces. Run by English merchants who collected taxes using a ruthless private army, this new regime saw the East India Company transform itself from an international trading corporation into something much more unusual: an aggressive colonial power in the guise of a multinational business.

William Dalrymple tells the remarkable story of the East India Company as it has never been told before, unfolding a timely cautionary tale of the first global corporate power.

©2019 William Dalrymple (P)2019 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc 18th Century Asia Colonialism & Post-Colonialism India Military Modern Politics & Government South Asia Colonial Period War Iran Middle East Dutch East India

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All stars
Most relevant
My only complaint is that the narrator mispronounces something or other, or places a strange emphasis on a word, regularly throughout the reading - I don’t blame the performer, there should have been a studio director listening out and correcting him!

Good but quirky narrator

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An excellent and interesting history ruined by the narrator. It’s not his fault that the editor chose to render current monetary values in such a tedious way. What is his fault is the appalling lack of research into something as basic as pronunciation. There are so many mispronunciations within the first hour that grate on the ear and offend because it is basic. If you don’t know, find out. I’ll read the book.

How to ruin a brilliant history.

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Engagingly told story. What could be a somewhat dated narrative style is redeemed by a contemporary sensibility.

The outlandish pronunciation of some words is a little annoying.

Cracking tales but bizarre pronunciation

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The text of the book on the whole has been well read by Sid Sagar . Unfortunately the reader’s pronunciation of Indian names, Persian and Urdu words and names of places is anglicised and very unsatisfactory. If he had consulted someone familiar with Persian and Urdu, he would have found it possible to deliver better pronunciation. This book covers an important part of India’s history.The author spent six years researching it and has produced a masterpiece. One would expect Audible to ensure its reader would make the effort to pronounce important names properly.

Mispronunciations of historic names and terms

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I'd recommend this. Kept to the subject yet colourful and entertaining. I'd recommend Roger Crowleys 'Conquerors' as an accompaniment. It deals with Portugals equivalent ventures in India.

Does what it says on the tin

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