Indian Summer

The Secret History of the End of an Empire

By: Alex von Tunzelmann

Narrated by: Nicola Barber

At the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the British Empire withdrew from India, igniting the exhilaration and turmoil of a newly free society. In this vivid, atmospheric popular history, Alex von Tunzelmann chronicles these times through the most prominent figures: Dickie Mountbatten, Britain's dashing, inept last viceroy; Dickie's savvy, glamorous wife, Edwina, who found the love of her life in Jawaharlal Nehru, India's new prime minister; Muslim leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah; and Mohandas Gandhi. Tunzelman's thrilling chronicle "removes the veil from the colorful personalities and events behind India's independence and partition with Pakistan" (The Washington Post).

Download the accompanying reference guide.©2007 Alex von Tunzelmann (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"In her scintillating debut, British author von Tunzelmann keeps one eye on the big picture, but foregrounds the personalities and relationships of the main political leaders - larger-than-life figures whom she cuts down to size.... [A] compelling narrative history, combining dramatic sweep with dishy detail." (Publishers Weekly)

"This is history as multiple, interconnected biography... a book more concerned with the smaller, more colorful threads of individual character than with the broader tapestry of history and retrospective judgment.... Indian Summer achieves something both simpler and rarer, placing the behavior and feelings of a few key players at the center of a tumultuous moment in history." (The New York Times Book Review)

“Nicola Barber’s narration is warm and intelligible, despite her entirely appropriate posh British vowels. Barber does an excellent job of pronouncing the names and titles of the various Indian places, princes, and pundits.” (AudioFile)

Good story not so easy to hear

I like the story a lot. Nicola Barbara speaks in a pleasant patter. Unfortunately her voice tended
to lull me to sleep. Ordinarily I wouldn't mind. This is a good story though and I regret zoning out. I've listen to the story several times now and I am just beginning to feel that I have the gist.

Good Content, Bad narration

Would you be willing to try another one of Nicola Barber’s performances?

No. The narrator is trying to bring in modulations but did not do a good job. It gets irritating after a point.

Latter day history student

For those of us who want to find out a little more about what made the world what it is today, this is an enjoyable addition to a number of subjects, the British royal family, the end of empire, the emergence of a new industrial society, and of course the role of the key players in the independence of India and Pakistan.

Interesting history about a little known subject.

If you could sum up Indian Summer in three words, what would they be?

Thorough and thoughtful.

Did the narration match the pace of the story?

The narrator's voice was not a good match for the story, in my opinion. However, she was able to pronounce some very tongue twisting names with ease.

Good read.

I really enjoyed this book. I really didn't know much about the events and people, but have a fascination with India in general. When I saw the narrator was Nicola Barbee, I had to get it (she also did all the Call the Midwife books. Love her voice) I was not disappointed and now want to read more on the subject.