British Social Life In India, 1608–1937

What were the old days/times like ?Everyday life and events - excellent original narration and captivating to read.

The book shares interesting anecdotes about the British lifestyle and customs. A good read for those interested in British era history.

Written by an Englishman in the 1930s this records the general, everyday life of the British in India from the early 17th century till the author's own time. Written in a flowing, easy style it describes the lives of a wide spectrum of people from all kinds of backgrounds who came to India at different times for very different reasons and under varying assumptions in vivid and quite often humorous detail. A thoroughly enjoyable and informative read!

A binocular gaze in to distant past of India during British regime. British life in India described in vivid and candid manner.

A very well written book.The descriptions of the life of British are so good that you can almost feel as if you are there and actually feel that you are witnessing the event really The life of civil services leave specially those who are part of it years later with a sense of nostalgia.It was a pleasure to read this book.

Well written with elements of humour as well. Lays bare the social life of the British in India, from the first days to the early 1940s. The book doesnt shy away from documenting the debauchery, snobbery and racism but also records the challenges faced by the British in trying to create an English lifestyle in India - with sometimes comical outcomes.

Nice book for Colonial history lover. Nicely described colonial Indian socio-culture and Indo-eropian demography. Must read.

Though written about ninety years ago, it has a fairly modern writing style, it's squarely informative and a valuable socio-historical document of the British in this subcontinent.

I couldn't agree less with the previous reviewer.I don't think the author was setting out to write an academic treatise to be read by students of British Empire (if any). I think he was trying to entertain and with me he succeeded. By the standards of 1937 British India the book is quite gossipy. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Although written in 1938 and updated in 1973, this book gives an interesting and even rollicking history of the Raj over more than 300 years as seen through the diaries and comments provided by those who had been there. From seventeenth century voluptuary behaviour, through the establishment of John Company and its final success in establishing an effective administration through conquest while securing vast fortunes for many of its servants which ended in the Mutiny and the final priggishness of the Mem Sahib and the arrogance of some of those who served the Raj until the final end of Empire. It provides a series of amusing anecdotes about what happened revealing a history of excess and shame for some of the things done by the Raj. Fun to read but sometimes a little superficial.