City of My Heart

Rana Safvi

Dilli,

Hindustan Ka Dil...

Through nuanced translations of four Urdu narratives spanning the period of turmoil that led to the Revolt of 1857 &n-dash; and culminating in the fall of the Mughal Empire &n-dash; this compelling volume reveals the tragic and affecting story of a royalty in decline.

Vividly documenting the twilight years of not just a historical era but also an entire way of life, these first-hand accounts &n-dash; gleaned from princes and paupers alike &n-dash; provide rare insight into how the royals and their subjects experienced life lived on either side of a cataclysm. Tales of suffering describe the perfidy of the British and the plight of the last royals as they are disbanded and pushed into dire poverty; livelier accounts of fealty and treachery detail palace intrigues; and nostalgic reminiscences recreate the days of past glory and communal comity &n-dash; of feasting and festivals, and shared faith and devotion. An intimate chronicle of a crucial era in India's history, City of My Heart is the saga of a changing city and a people experiencing the end of life as they know it.