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The Anarchy

The Relentless Rise of the East India Company

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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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Very interesting book, packed with information, but read at breakneck speed, which made it very hard to absorb the facts.

Interesting book.

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This is an interesting book but not easy to follow with so many names involved mostly unfamiliar. I’m not sure the audio form is ideal for a history of this scope. In any event, it is read in an extremely aggravating way. English words are mispronounced with wrong emphases. Indian place and personal names are sometimes pronounced in English style and sometimes in an unconvincing Indian accent. (I am aware the reader is of Indian origin.) I don’t blame the reader who seems to have been left to get on with it on his own without any helpful direction. The general feel must have been don’t worry about all this pronunciation - just get on with it.

A masterpiece of mispronunciation

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Little thought given to the listener - seemed to me that the reading was done without a director. Despite this I still enjoyed the book.

Good book poorly read

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eye opening book. excellent, flows like a novel. the narrator's style and accent is absurd.

Excellent book once you learn to ignore narrator

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A very illuminating analysis of the East India company. highly recommended if you have an interest in this organisation but also the prelude to British rule in India.

Excellent

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