Railways and The Raj
How the Age of Steam Transformed India
Published on 4. October 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-78239-767-0 (ISBN)
Description
India was the jewel in the crown of the British Empire, an Empire that needed a rail network to facilitate its exploitation and reflect its ambition. But, by building India's railways, Britain radically changed the nation and unwittingly planted the seed of independence. As Indians were made to travel in poor conditions and were barred from the better paid railway jobs a stirring of resentment and nationalist sentiment grew.
The Indian Railways network remains one of the largest in the world, serving over 25 million passengers each day. In this expertly told history, Christian Wolmar reveals the full story, from the railway's beginnings to the present day, and examines the chequered role this institution has played in Indian history and the creation of today's modern state.
The Indian Railways network remains one of the largest in the world, serving over 25 million passengers each day. In this expertly told history, Christian Wolmar reveals the full story, from the railway's beginnings to the present day, and examines the chequered role this institution has played in Indian history and the creation of today's modern state.
Reviews / Votes
An engaging and welcome account of this magnificent institution and its dramatic history up to the present day. * Spectator * Wolmar entertainingly examines the complicated legacy of the [Indian] railway, the most palpable element of British imperialism. * Michael Portillo * Railways and the Raj is valuable not only as a lively history of the Indian railways, but as an intervention in our own political moment. * TLS * Instructive, inspiring and even endearing, Railways and The Raj is a captivating read. * Shashi Tharoor, author of INGLORIOUS EMPIRE * Railways & The Raj is brilliant - absorbing, engrossing and definitive. * Michael Williams, author of ON THE SLOW TRAIN * Wolmar tells an epic story, at once shocking and inspiring. Stripped of false nostalgia for the Raj and all its deceptions, India's railways emerge greater than ever, and still central to the nation's identity and future. -- Simon Bradley * Author of THE RAILWAYS * Christian Wolmar brings to life the early days of trains in India and describes with great clarity and wit how railways have spread across the vast country over the years. This is not a dry, stuffy read merely for rail enthusiasts. It's full of energy, enthusiasm and erudition, explaining the role of railways at key moments in the country's history from early mutinies against the colonialists to independence and beyond. Highly recommended. -- Tom Chesshyre * Author of TICKET TO RIDE * This is one up-to-date book on Indian Railways that captures its history, life, stories and status... A must-read for all those keen followers of India's railways and for those who want to know all about it. -- Rajendra B. Aklekar * Author of HALT STATION INDIA *More details
Edition
Main
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Illustrations
1x8pp colour plates, 1x8pp b/w plates and maps
Dimensions
Height: 188 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
392 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78239-767-0 (9781782397670)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2017
Atlantic Books
€11.49
Available for download
Person
Christian Wolmar writes regularly for a wide variety of publications including the Independent, Evening Standard and Rail magazine, and appears frequently on TV and radio as a commentator on transport issues. His previous books include the widely-acclaimed The Subterranean Railway; Fire and Steam; Blood, Iron and Gold; Engines of War; The Great Railway Revolution and To the Edge of the World.