SINCE gaining independence in 1947, India has changed beyond recognition. Having already provided an account of the country’s road to partition in his best seller Liberty Or Death, Patrick French now takes the opportunity to examine the social, political and economical developments within India in the decades since and the factors that have led to its ongoing evolution.

The depth of research undertaken by the author is vast and this allows him to present a fascinating insight into his subject matter.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru – India’s first prime minister – are among the highly influential figures to be placed under French’s microscope, while a variety of landmark events, such as the forming of the nation’s constitution, are also explored in great detail. As a result, this is a compelling analysis of one of the world’s most diverse and intriguing lands.

Chris Devine