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Courting India: Seventeenth-Century England, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire
A profound and ground-breaking approach to one of the most important encounters in the history of colonialism: the British arrival in India in the early seventeenth century.
Traditional interpretations of the British Empire’s emerging success and expansion have long overshadowed the deep uncertainty that marked its initial entanglement with India. In Courting India: Renaissance London, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire , acclaimed historian Nandini Das examines the British arrival in India in the early 17th century with fresh eyes, resulting in a profound and groundbreaking account of one of the most important encounters in the history of colonialism.
When Thomas Roe arrived in India in 1616 as James I’s first ambassador to the Mughal Empire, the English barely had a toehold in the subcontinent. Their understanding of South Asian trade and India was sketchy at best, and, to the Mughals, they were minor players on a very large stage. Roe represented a kingdom that was beset by financial woes and deeply conflicted about its identity as a unified ‘Great Britain’ under the Stuart monarchy. Meanwhile, the court he entered in India was wealthy and cultured, its dominion widely considered to be one of the greatest and richest empires of the world.
In this fascinating history of Roe’s four years in India, Nandini Das offers an insider’s view of Britain in the making, a country whose imperial seeds were just being sown. It is a story of palace intrigue, scandal, lotteries, and wagers that unfold as global trade begins to stretch from Russia to Virginia, from West Africa to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.
A major debut that explores the art, literature, sights and sounds of Elizabethan London and Imperial India, Courting India reveals Thomas Roe’s time in the Mughal Empire to be a turning point in history—and offers a rich and radical challenge to our understanding of Britain and its early empire.
Traditional interpretations of the British Empire’s emerging success and expansion have long overshadowed the deep uncertainty that marked its initial entanglement with India. In Courting India: Renaissance London, Mughal India, and the Origins of Empire , acclaimed historian Nandini Das examines the British arrival in India in the early 17th century with fresh eyes, resulting in a profound and groundbreaking account of one of the most important encounters in the history of colonialism.
When Thomas Roe arrived in India in 1616 as James I’s first ambassador to the Mughal Empire, the English barely had a toehold in the subcontinent. Their understanding of South Asian trade and India was sketchy at best, and, to the Mughals, they were minor players on a very large stage. Roe represented a kingdom that was beset by financial woes and deeply conflicted about its identity as a unified ‘Great Britain’ under the Stuart monarchy. Meanwhile, the court he entered in India was wealthy and cultured, its dominion widely considered to be one of the greatest and richest empires of the world.
In this fascinating history of Roe’s four years in India, Nandini Das offers an insider’s view of Britain in the making, a country whose imperial seeds were just being sown. It is a story of palace intrigue, scandal, lotteries, and wagers that unfold as global trade begins to stretch from Russia to Virginia, from West Africa to the Spice Islands of Indonesia.
A major debut that explores the art, literature, sights and sounds of Elizabethan London and Imperial India, Courting India reveals Thomas Roe’s time in the Mughal Empire to be a turning point in history—and offers a rich and radical challenge to our understanding of Britain and its early empire.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published March 16, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 16, 2024
This is an engrossing book for so many reasons. The tale of the fraught early diplomatic encounters between Mughal India and Stuart Britain, it's based on the journals of Sir Thomas Roe, the arrogant representative of the court of James I, who recounts his embassy and trade mission, on behalf of the newly formed East India Company, to the court of the Mughal Emperor Jahangir. We learn of his frustration at the cultural differences with his hosts, his diplomatic faux pas and his grudging admiration of the splendour and power of his Indian hosts. Along the way, the author draws contemporary similarities and differences between Stuart and Mughal beliefs and methods of government, from the liberal Mughal attitude towards religious freedom (in contrast to protestant dominance of early 17th century England) to several examples of Jahangir's intolerance of personal criticism, of which proponents of the divine rights of kings would have been envious.
There are fascinating pen portraits of numerous key figures in both England and India, including Prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jahan - , with whom Roe has a very strained relationship - to key female figures such as Nur Jahan and Anne of Denmark.
It's hard to believe that this powerful Mughal society would, within a century, give way to the abject humiliation of brutal colonial dominance at the hands of the heirs to Thomas Roe and his colleagues.
There are fascinating pen portraits of numerous key figures in both England and India, including Prince Khurram, later Emperor Shah Jahan - , with whom Roe has a very strained relationship - to key female figures such as Nur Jahan and Anne of Denmark.
It's hard to believe that this powerful Mughal society would, within a century, give way to the abject humiliation of brutal colonial dominance at the hands of the heirs to Thomas Roe and his colleagues.
February 5, 2025
Rarely does it take me two weeks to finish a book and still, when I do, feel very disappointed about that it is over. A fantastic read with brilliant characters - bristling Amabassador Roe, alcoholic Mughal princes, badly behaved Brits abroad.
October 3, 2024
I've wondered how England first became involved with India and then ended up ruling it, so this book seemed like a useful place to start. It was quite interesting as it showed that England was not a terribly important country at the time it first became involved with India. Of course, everyone knew this but the English. It's self importance reminded me of a Yorkshire terrier barking hysterically at a Rottweiler. Apparently some things never change. This book quotes many original sources, and the English ones are in the original language so a reasonable degree of comfort with the language of Shakespeare or the king James Bible is a definite plus. 3.5 stars
January 31, 2024
I heard the author speak at Cheltenham Literature Festival and was interested in this book about the first encounters between England and the Mughal Empire. The book would appeal more to specialists as the detail and length are probably too much for the general reader.
August 10, 2023
Das' account of the Mughal Court, imperial diaries and Roe's embassy breathes new life into a well-known historical archive, but with a refreshing context and fresh eyes.
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October 4, 2024I’m sure this was not the author’s intention, as this was a very heavily researched and comprehensive book, but the main thing I took away from this book was that the English were very stupid and definitely overestimated their presence in global trading networks, and were quite terrible at peaceful trade negotiations lmao. It was almost embarrassing to read. It was very “oh baby no” every time they tried to pull a power play, or smooth a conflict over, or try and progress negotiations to their favour in any way. Oh my days were they silly gooses.
It was also interesting to see what’s documented and what isn’t. For Jahangir, the arrival of the British are barely worth a mention, and there’s so many figures in this story who are not mentioned in the accounts of others accurately or frequently enough to get a full, complex picture. It essentially reflects who and what is considered important to those keeping records, whether official or personal. Fascinating, but also depressing as there were so many people, particularly women, I wanted to hear from (that harem sounded like Wonder Woman’s island, I dunno what the English were on about painting it as an affront to humanity), and how much agency they had in all these negotiations and Mughal state making.
The difference between how the Mughal state was run (I’m always reluctant to deem any culture precolonial contact as a paradise, and the Mughals are themselves colonisers to an extent, as they’ve overthrown an existing system by force) and how the English perceived that statehood is often night and day, and any similarities between the Mughal and British kingdoms are not acknowledged by the British, either on purpose, or simply because they’re too oblivious.
Roe’s account of seeing a Muslim map for the first time was hilarious. His dismay at seeing Europe on the periphery? Chef’s kiss, no notes.
It was also interesting to see what’s documented and what isn’t. For Jahangir, the arrival of the British are barely worth a mention, and there’s so many figures in this story who are not mentioned in the accounts of others accurately or frequently enough to get a full, complex picture. It essentially reflects who and what is considered important to those keeping records, whether official or personal. Fascinating, but also depressing as there were so many people, particularly women, I wanted to hear from (that harem sounded like Wonder Woman’s island, I dunno what the English were on about painting it as an affront to humanity), and how much agency they had in all these negotiations and Mughal state making.
The difference between how the Mughal state was run (I’m always reluctant to deem any culture precolonial contact as a paradise, and the Mughals are themselves colonisers to an extent, as they’ve overthrown an existing system by force) and how the English perceived that statehood is often night and day, and any similarities between the Mughal and British kingdoms are not acknowledged by the British, either on purpose, or simply because they’re too oblivious.
Roe’s account of seeing a Muslim map for the first time was hilarious. His dismay at seeing Europe on the periphery? Chef’s kiss, no notes.
March 20, 2023
I'd not come across Thomas Roe before but I'm glad to have encountered him in this book. Informative, educational and beautifully written, with hints of the absurdity of the merchant life, this has been one to savour.
Very enjoyable.
Very enjoyable.
April 27, 2024
4.5 stars
Sir Thomas Roe was the first English ambassador to the Mughal court from 1615 to 1619. As well as representing King James I he was employed by the East India Company to represent their interests and to sign a permanent bilateral trading treaty with Emperor Jahangir.
This brilliant book enlightens the reader on the fact that Roe’s mission was anything but a walk in the park or a time of revelling in mind-boggling Mughal opulence. To the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness and homesickness. Although Jahangir was kindly inclined towards Roe, especially at the beginning, being subject to the Emperor’s constantly changing moods and whims was anything but easy. While living in a shared crumbling house threatened by fire and flood and ever short of money, he desperately tried to preserve his status and his English identity in manner, dress and language (he never attempted to learn Persian, relying on a less than competent translator). Keeping up his attitude of religious and racial superiority and strict moral code while having to submit to Mughal customs and court etiquette must have been a difficult task. Another huge problem for him was the custom of gift giving at every opportunity in that part of the world. This normally involved elephants, horses and any amount of costly jewels which of course he was in no way able to match. The shoddy wares he was sent to be given as gifts made him and his King the laughing stock of the court.
While Jahangir seemed to have liked Roe, crown prince Khurram, the later Shah Jahan, mistrusted him, put obstacles in his way at every opportunity and made his life extremely difficult. And then of course there were the Portuguese and later the Dutch who were cleverly played off against each other by Jahangir who had no intention of favouring the English.
Jahangir, like his forebears, was a keen traveller, moving his massive court to Agra, Ajmer, Mandu and Ahmedabad with Roe trotting behind him, always on the edge of the encampment, suffering from dysentery, fending for himself and keeping up his vast correspondence under the most uncomfortable conditions. Another headache were the truculent English factors who had resented his authority from the start and were incensed by his trying to stop their private trading. On top of that there were often complaints about the rowdy behaviour of Englishmen who got into skirmishes with members of the court. As he himself said: ”My employment is nothing but vexation and trouble, little honor, less profit”. So, despite all of Roe’s efforts, his four years of hard work in the end achieved very little. It was always one step forward and two steps back and there would be no English ambassador to the Mughal court until 1699.
Having followed Roe’s trials and tribulations for more than 500 pages and developed a fondness for the man I thought it was sad that in Jahangir’s diary “the departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked.
Sir Thomas Roe was the first English ambassador to the Mughal court from 1615 to 1619. As well as representing King James I he was employed by the East India Company to represent their interests and to sign a permanent bilateral trading treaty with Emperor Jahangir.
This brilliant book enlightens the reader on the fact that Roe’s mission was anything but a walk in the park or a time of revelling in mind-boggling Mughal opulence. To the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness and homesickness. Although Jahangir was kindly inclined towards Roe, especially at the beginning, being subject to the Emperor’s constantly changing moods and whims was anything but easy. While living in a shared crumbling house threatened by fire and flood and ever short of money, he desperately tried to preserve his status and his English identity in manner, dress and language (he never attempted to learn Persian, relying on a less than competent translator). Keeping up his attitude of religious and racial superiority and strict moral code while having to submit to Mughal customs and court etiquette must have been a difficult task. Another huge problem for him was the custom of gift giving at every opportunity in that part of the world. This normally involved elephants, horses and any amount of costly jewels which of course he was in no way able to match. The shoddy wares he was sent to be given as gifts made him and his King the laughing stock of the court.
While Jahangir seemed to have liked Roe, crown prince Khurram, the later Shah Jahan, mistrusted him, put obstacles in his way at every opportunity and made his life extremely difficult. And then of course there were the Portuguese and later the Dutch who were cleverly played off against each other by Jahangir who had no intention of favouring the English.
Jahangir, like his forebears, was a keen traveller, moving his massive court to Agra, Ajmer, Mandu and Ahmedabad with Roe trotting behind him, always on the edge of the encampment, suffering from dysentery, fending for himself and keeping up his vast correspondence under the most uncomfortable conditions. Another headache were the truculent English factors who had resented his authority from the start and were incensed by his trying to stop their private trading. On top of that there were often complaints about the rowdy behaviour of Englishmen who got into skirmishes with members of the court. As he himself said: ”My employment is nothing but vexation and trouble, little honor, less profit”. So, despite all of Roe’s efforts, his four years of hard work in the end achieved very little. It was always one step forward and two steps back and there would be no English ambassador to the Mughal court until 1699.
Having followed Roe’s trials and tribulations for more than 500 pages and developed a fondness for the man I thought it was sad that in Jahangir’s diary “the departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked.
February 6, 2023
Fascinating account of the early encounters between Britain and Mughal Empire. Thomas Roe was James I first ambassador to India where he spent four years (1616-19) at the court of Jahangir. He went on to have a successful diplomatic career as ambassador to the Ottoman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire but here he is quite the fish out of water, trying to establish relationships and obtain better trading arrangements without the proper means to do so. Unable to match the lavishness of the Persian embassy for example or to make much headway against the Portuguese, already by this time better established on the subcontinent, he is forever complaining about lack of funds. The gifts and bribes that periodically arrive on the East India Company ships often spoil on the long voyage or rot in the climate. His health suffers and his embassy is badly understaffed. From such beginnings, it makes you wander, how on earth did Britain end up having an empire at all?
Das has done a phenomenal amount of research and gives us a fantastic insight into the Mughal court, its culture, customs, society, politics and power relationships between major players. And while Roe kept a journal and wrote letters, I didn’t get the impression that he was particularly interested in any of this, unless it pertained to him obtaining privileges for British traders. I personally found him quite dull especially compared to Jahangir and his family. Still, a fascinating read.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Courting India.
Das has done a phenomenal amount of research and gives us a fantastic insight into the Mughal court, its culture, customs, society, politics and power relationships between major players. And while Roe kept a journal and wrote letters, I didn’t get the impression that he was particularly interested in any of this, unless it pertained to him obtaining privileges for British traders. I personally found him quite dull especially compared to Jahangir and his family. Still, a fascinating read.
My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read Courting India.
August 1, 2024
This is an interesting book which sets out to write a history of early contact between Britain and the Mughal court through the life of Thomas Roe, a British courtier and the first official British ambassador to the Mughal court. While these histories of colonialism through key figures are two-a-penny in some ways this book is innovative. Like William Dalrymple's work Das is more critical than many other writers of similar popular histories. However, through drawing so much from source material which is British at times the focus on Roe seems to give a slightly lopsided impression of everything going on.
Das is at her best where she is critical of the ways in which these sort of encounters are traditionally narrated. For example, where she suggests Roe's posturing on arrival in Surat would often be narrated as the Mughals not paying him sufficient attention rather than Roe being a pain deliberately for political means, or her very astute discussions of Nur Jahan and how she is represented in documents since.
While I largely enjoyed the book I found I was a bit unsure what direction it was going in throughout. While better than most it still felt like a 'big man' history which put at it's center the biographies of Roe, Jahangir, James I and Shah Jahan.
Das is at her best where she is critical of the ways in which these sort of encounters are traditionally narrated. For example, where she suggests Roe's posturing on arrival in Surat would often be narrated as the Mughals not paying him sufficient attention rather than Roe being a pain deliberately for political means, or her very astute discussions of Nur Jahan and how she is represented in documents since.
While I largely enjoyed the book I found I was a bit unsure what direction it was going in throughout. While better than most it still felt like a 'big man' history which put at it's center the biographies of Roe, Jahangir, James I and Shah Jahan.
March 3, 2025
Technically, a biography of Thomas Roe, who was the first ambassador from England to Mughal India in 1615. The author did a splendid job of describing the lives in the Mughal emperor's court. A meticulously researched book that portrays the lives of key Mughal figures of the 17th century, the two main important figures whose lives were elaborated were Jahangir, Prince Khurram, and later Emperor Shah Jahan.
The book illustrated that Roe’s mission was not a walk in the park in the great Mughal court; to the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness, and homesickness. While Roe documented every walk of Mughal life in his journal meticulously, sometimes on an hourly basis, in Jahangir's memoirs, there is no sign of the presentation of the first English ambassador; neither do any other Mughal sources refer to it, so we have no way of knowing how Roe's presentation struck either the emperor or the gathered Mughal nobility.
Roe had landed in Surat on 26 September 1615 and exactly three years later he departed for London. "The departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked in Jahangir’s diary.”
The book illustrated that Roe’s mission was not a walk in the park in the great Mughal court; to the contrary, those were years of struggle, stress, frustration, often humiliation, loneliness, and homesickness. While Roe documented every walk of Mughal life in his journal meticulously, sometimes on an hourly basis, in Jahangir's memoirs, there is no sign of the presentation of the first English ambassador; neither do any other Mughal sources refer to it, so we have no way of knowing how Roe's presentation struck either the emperor or the gathered Mughal nobility.
Roe had landed in Surat on 26 September 1615 and exactly three years later he departed for London. "The departure of the English ambassador, like his arrival, goes unremarked in Jahangir’s diary.”
April 26, 2024
"Courting India" by Nandini Das is a captivating exploration of the intricate dance between literature, culture, and politics in colonial India. Das skillfully navigates through the historical backdrop, weaving together narratives of power, identity, and resistance. Her meticulous research and engaging prose make this book a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of colonialism and its impact on Indian literature and society. Through a series of insightful analyses, Das sheds light on how colonial encounters shaped literary production and reception, highlighting the agency of Indian writers in negotiating their cultural and political identities. "Courting India" is not just a scholarly work; it is a compelling journey through the literary landscape of colonial India, offering fresh perspectives and inviting readers to rethink conventional narratives of colonial history.
Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the review copy
Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the review copy
August 18, 2024
This was a very interesting and detailed account of the first English embassy to India and the Mughal Empire. This contains a brief biography of many of the key players of the English embassy as well as in the court of Jahangir.
I went into this book hoping to understand how England came to establish their hold and dominion over the English people,and while this is ultimately a fruitless embassy I came away with a better understanding of some of the inner workings of the East India company as they establish trade with foreign powers.
I really enjoyed some of the quotes from various accounts that read in hindsight are ironic, like Roe and his frequent assurances that the English were 'not there to establish a colony' in India.
This book seems to be geared towards a very brief, four-year period of time and therefore may not be for everyone. People with vested interest in India and England and their relation too one another will most likely enjoy this book, as I did.
I went into this book hoping to understand how England came to establish their hold and dominion over the English people,and while this is ultimately a fruitless embassy I came away with a better understanding of some of the inner workings of the East India company as they establish trade with foreign powers.
I really enjoyed some of the quotes from various accounts that read in hindsight are ironic, like Roe and his frequent assurances that the English were 'not there to establish a colony' in India.
This book seems to be geared towards a very brief, four-year period of time and therefore may not be for everyone. People with vested interest in India and England and their relation too one another will most likely enjoy this book, as I did.
January 1, 2024
This was a slow, but interesting reading experience. This was mainly a biography of Thomas Roe's
years as the first ambassador from England to Mughal India. I thought that Nandini Das did a wonderful job of describing life in the Mughal emperor's court and some of the wonders of the Mughal civilization at that time. Roe seemed more interested in his own pride than in really learning about the Mughal culture, for example, refusing to learn the local language. In reflecting on other things I have read about India as a British colony, it seems like the British (and, I suppose other colonizing powers) were deceitful in their future "plans" for their trading "partners." It makes me wonder how India might have developed without centuries under the British yoke.
years as the first ambassador from England to Mughal India. I thought that Nandini Das did a wonderful job of describing life in the Mughal emperor's court and some of the wonders of the Mughal civilization at that time. Roe seemed more interested in his own pride than in really learning about the Mughal culture, for example, refusing to learn the local language. In reflecting on other things I have read about India as a British colony, it seems like the British (and, I suppose other colonizing powers) were deceitful in their future "plans" for their trading "partners." It makes me wonder how India might have developed without centuries under the British yoke.
March 20, 2023
Courting India is an interesting account of the British arrival in India in the early 1600's from the perspective of Thomas Roe, James I’s first ambassador to the Mughal Empire, who arrived there in 1616. It explored the beginning of Britain's imperial and colonial as well as the goings on and culture of Elizabethan England. It's a great read for anyone who wants to learn more about the origins of Britain's link with India.
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November 24, 2023This was chosen by Pratinav Anil, Lecturer at St Edmund Hall, Oxford and author of Another India: The Making of the World’s Largest Muslim Minority, 1947-77 (Hurst, 2023), as one of History Today’s Books of the Year 2023.
Find out why at HistoryToday.com.
Find out why at HistoryToday.com.
June 30, 2024
Although well researched, the book is very repetitive, with about 100 pages devoted to the subject of how difficult it is to procure gifts for an emperor. Very belabored. Additionally, the author of course has to paint her main subject as racist, etc. which is de rigueur these days. I can't say I learned much from this book.
November 25, 2024
This book offers a fascinating account of Sir Thomas Roe's diplomatic mission to the Mughal court of Emperor Jahangir. It's a vivid exploration of the meeting of two empires, full of rich historical detail and insight. A must-read for history enthusiasts!
This is a culmination of 10 years' of rigorous research by the author. What an effort!!
This is a culmination of 10 years' of rigorous research by the author. What an effort!!
December 23, 2024
Interesting insight into european and indian feopolitics of the era. Facinating to know, contrary to taught narratives, how florishing the indian economy was and as Roe writes in his journal, how difficult it was to find european manufactured products that could impress or compete with even the basic commoditiws of everyday life.
January 15, 2025
I picked up this book because I heard the author speak at the 2024 Hay Book Festival. This was definitely not an easy read but well worth the time. it was a well researched account of history linking England and India in the 1600s. For those of us of Indian heritage brought up in Britain, the book helps build the jigsaw of our roots.
January 29, 2025
I will let the author speak for herself. After 373 pages on Thomas Roe's embassy to India, she wrote, "we know that nothing particularly significant emerged from Roe's embassy."
That said, it is insightful if you do not know much about the inner workings of the Mughal empire during the reign of Jahangir.
That said, it is insightful if you do not know much about the inner workings of the Mughal empire during the reign of Jahangir.
July 30, 2023
History writing of the highest order by a scholar equally well-versed in Jacobin court culture as in Persianate India. Imaginatively conceived and beautifully written, this should be shortlisted for the Wolfson!
October 24, 2023
Although extremely informative and clearly well-researched, the author's writing style irritated me. Her writing is too 'donnish' in an annoying way. I read the book in its entirety, but often found it hard to keep up my enthusiasm for it.
June 8, 2024
Magisterial discussion of England's first ambassador to India - Thomas Roe. Great insight on the difficulty the British had in recognizing and understanding the sophistication of the Indian culture. A period about which I knew almost nothing.
June 14, 2024
Interesting in parts but somewhat disorganised. Covers the early years of the EIC - till the late 17th century. Told mostly from the English pov, specifically Thomas Roe.
The book needed a descriptive blurb (it only had reviews on the back) so I knew how much and what it was covering.
The book needed a descriptive blurb (it only had reviews on the back) so I knew how much and what it was covering.
October 30, 2023
I quit P.172 as I found it too detailed & academic, in spite of many interesting bits about the politics & personalities in England & India
January 27, 2024
This was a little too slow-paced for me. It felt like it could have been a shorter book and been much more interesting.
February 12, 2024
what a love story !
February 24, 2025
A much needed intervention into the story of England's first ambassador to India, but laden with perhaps too many details that drown the attempted narrative
March 1, 2023
Fascinating and comprehensive account of Thomas Roe’s embassy from the impoverished James I to the opulent Mughal Court of Jahangir. Courting India provides great insight into the political and economic context. It also highlights the complex relationships and power structures at Jahangir’s court, and the open way he conducted much government business, as well as sharing court gossip and intrigue.
There are some great anecdotes about the discomforts and indignities suffered by Roe, in part self-inflicted (such as refusing to learn the language or give up wearing British-style clothes in the extreme heat) but also due to the penny-pinching ways of the East India Company. In the face of a lavish court where relationships were built on exchange of gifts, Roe had to resort to handing over his most prized personal possessions to get a hearing.
Roe’s time in India apparently had little impact on the Mughals (he is barely mentioned in Jahangir’s own comprehensive writings). It’s a useful reframing of the beginnings of British colonisation in India.
*
Copy from NetGalley
There are some great anecdotes about the discomforts and indignities suffered by Roe, in part self-inflicted (such as refusing to learn the language or give up wearing British-style clothes in the extreme heat) but also due to the penny-pinching ways of the East India Company. In the face of a lavish court where relationships were built on exchange of gifts, Roe had to resort to handing over his most prized personal possessions to get a hearing.
Roe’s time in India apparently had little impact on the Mughals (he is barely mentioned in Jahangir’s own comprehensive writings). It’s a useful reframing of the beginnings of British colonisation in India.
*
Copy from NetGalley
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews