Author : Malcolm Speirs
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 406 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2013-04-22
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1484022246
Lucknow Families of the Raj by Malcolm Speirs Pdf
This book describes incidents in the lives of many of the European and Anglo-Indian families who lived in Lucknow during the "British Raj" period (1858 to 1947) when India was directly ruled by the British Government after the East India Company was disbanded. The city of Lucknow became famous during the rebellion of 1857 for the long-lasting siege of the Residency, which led to massive destruction of parts of the city after its re-capture by the British. The European and Anglo-indian families who lived through this event generally suffered great hardship in rebuilding their lives. The author has found many examples of their subsequent claims for "succour," pensions and compensation for property lost, often with graphic descriptions of their experiences. The book includes newspaper reports of living conditions in Lucknow in 1859 & 1867 and "letters home" from a young army officer living in cantonments in the late 1860's. Carefully chosen letters, memoirs and articles by civil servants, police and army officers and a young lady give a vivid impression of life in Lucknow from the 1890s up to the war years, including entertainment in the various theatres. A medical officer also describes the preparations made to receive great numbers of sick and wounded men in temporary hospitals following the defeat of the British army in Burma in 1942.For those Europeans whose families lived in Lucknow during the Raj period, this book gives a good flavour of their lives and in many cases records actual details of their ancestors' lives. For those whose families are not directly mentioned in the text, there is a large appendix, based on Indian directories, which gives employment details of over 4,750 individuals at Lucknow.The following is a review of the book by the well-known author of books about Lucknow, Dr. Rosie Llewellyn-Jones:'For anyone interested in the history of Lucknow, that fascinating city in north India, this is an important book. The author, who is related to many of its prominent Anglo-Indian families, has carefully traced what happened to these same families after the cataclysm of the Indian 'Mutiny' and how they began to rebuild their shattered lives. A vivid picture of Lucknow during the British Raj emerges, with anecdotes, petitions, diaries and newspaper reports, each presented in a lively and readable manner. I think people will enjoy this.' Rosie Llewellyn-Jones