Intimidating to some but overwhelmingly enchanting, India has long drawn travellers into its colourful melee of history, culture and general chaos.
There is no better way to get to grips with India’s diversity, rich history, complex social structures and vibrant culture than reading well chosen books. Not only will they prepare you for the experience and answer some of the myriad questions you may have – where should I go? What should I see? Why are there so many cows? – but help you to at least begin the access the very fabric of India, what it’s been up to, what it’s doing now and where it’s headed. What more usedul insight could there be to help you truly relish a destination?
So here is our list of the top 8 books to read before travelling to India. With the help of these, you’ll have a good grounding on what to fully embrace, love and explore in this incredible country.
The God of Small Things Arundhati Roy
The 1997 Booker Prize winner, The God of Small Things revolves around Rahel and Estha, twins growing up in the midst of political turmoil in Kerala.
Around India in 80 Trains Menisha Rajesh
Menisha Rajesh records the details of her travels on India’s railways, travelling 40,000 kilometres on 80 trains, in a Jules Verne-esque adventure.
Holy Cow! A Indian Adventure Sarah MacDonald
Having travelled around India, Sarah MacDonald vowed never to return, until her partner was posted to New Delhi! This book follows her time in India’s capital as an expat.
The Argumentative Indian Amartya Sen
Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen examines India’s history and the way that that history has shaped India’s cultural identity in a series of fascinating essays.
A Suitable Boy Vikram Seth
Published in 1993, this 1,349-page novel is set in post-independence, post-partition India. It follows the lives of four families over 18 months as a mother searches for a suitor for her daughter.
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life Death and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity Katherine Boo
Written in 2012 by Katherine Boo, a Pulitzer Prize winning author, this non-fiction book examines a present-day slum in Mumbai, and follows the lives of some of its residents.
Freedom at Midnight Dominique Lapierre & Larry Collins
Focussed on the independence movement of the 1940s, this non-fiction book details the series of events that unfold and culminate in the independence and partition of India.
A Fine Balance Rohinton Mistry
Set during ‘The Emergency’ of the mid-1970s, Rohinton Mistry’s novel follows four unlikely people brought together by circumstance, in a panoramic, political and intensely rich narrative.
