Koh-i-Noor

The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond

By: Anita Anand, William Dalrymple

Narrated by: Leighton Pugh

The first comprehensive and authoritative history of the Koh-i Noor, arguably the most celebrated and mythologised jewel in the world, from the internationally acclaimed and best-selling historians William Dalrymple and Anita Anand.

On 29 March 1849, the 10-year-old Maharajah of the Punjab was ushered into the magnificent Mirrored Hall at the centre of the great Fort in Lahore. There, in a public ceremony, the frightened but dignified child handed over to the British East India Company in a formal act of submission not only swathes of the richest land in India but also arguably the single most valuable object in the subcontinent: the celebrated Koh-i-Noor diamond. The Mountain of Light.

Under commission from the British East India Company, gossip from Delhi bazaars was woven into what would become the accepted history of the Koh-i-Noor. Now, for the first time, 150 years after it was written, this version is finally challenged, freeing the diamond from the fog of mythology which has clung to it for so long. The resulting history is one of greed, conquest, murder, torture, colonialism and appropriation through an impressive slice of South and Central Asian history. Masterly, powerful and erudite, this is history at its most compelling and invigorating.

©2017 Bloomsbury (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Much Recommended

This book was very well written, and the story is presented elegantly. Though many parts of it were already known to me, thanks to the Empire podcast by the writers, the book certainly informs much more.

The only gripe I have with the audio story is that the narrator has not done a decent job. The pronunciation of the words originating from India was atrocious.

However, if you cut some slack about the pronunciation and the listener has not heard of Empir, this book is much recommended.

VERY INTERESTING

It is a fascinating part of history of England, India and the famous Koh-I-Noor diamond.
The story is interesting, matter of fact and moving fast.
The narrator, mr. Leighton Pugh, is a pleasure to listen to.
My thanks to all involved, JK.

Only one complaint

It was really hard as an Indian to listen to a "performer" mispronounce common Indian terms from that period. Apparently Audible could not find a single Indian to narrate this book. Too bad. Fascinating content though.

Fascinating book

I’m a fan of both William Dalrymple and Anita Anand so I was predisposed to like this book. But although the narrator was clear and well spoken, he mispronounced a lot of names ... particularly non-Anglo ones, which is a shame in a book about colonialism ...

Sparkling and comprehensive

Koh-i-noor - The History of the World's Most Infamous Diamond by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand

171 years ago this month, the British Raj under Queen Victoria took the world's most sought after 105 carat diamond which was the size of half an egg, from the 10-year old Sikh emperor of Punjab, Maharaja Duleep Singh.

From the Peacock Throne of the Mughals, to the bracelets of Nadir Shah and Ranjit Singh, and finally to the crown of Queen Victoria, this small but precious inanimate object has travelled the world, adorned thrones, been hidden in cracks in prison walls, displayed with pride, and disappeared mysteriously.

Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Great Britain, all claim ownership and this seemingly harmless piece of stone looks on almost smilingly as Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, and Christians alike keep hacking at ways to get it for themselves.

The Koh-i-noor, believed to be cursed, has left wars, murders, cruel decapitations, capture, and plunder in its wake. It's owners have been brought to the streets and left to die alone, been killed by cholera, have been assassinated by their own family, or died in captivity. It might do us all well to revisit and ask ourselves if it the stone that's cursed, or human desire.

This book was a good narration of the diamond's sparkling history and bedazzling journey.